It was about 7 in the morning when the couple woke up cuddling each other. Although Laxus still felt extremely tired, Mystogan convinced him to get up. After they had a small breakfast Mystogan stood up laughing at Laxus' joke about Freed and Bickslow when they had first entered the Thunder Legion. "Alright, we should check in with the guild." He said through laughter while Laxus nodded and stood up with his usual smirk of amusement. This time Laxus cleaned the dishes but he didn't think about putting them away, he just set them on a towel lying on one of the counters. When he came out to the front room he saw Mystogan raising his eyebrows at him, "What?" He asked slipping his fuzzy coat on. The bluenette laughed, "You - didn't put the dishes away," Laxus sweat-dropped and then snaked an arm around the other's shoulders, "Don't sweat the small stuff. Let's get to the guild…" he said dropping the subject. The duo walked out into the damp air with Mystogan glancing up at the sky, "It looks like it's going to rain today…" he observed. "You know what that means," Laxus smirked and at Mystogan's confused look he shocked him in the back with his lightning. Mystogan landed a smack on his arm which only caused Laxus to laugh, "Ow~..." the lightning mage faked out a hurt expression. His mate only laughed shortly and rolled his eyes as they approached the guild.

Coming into an extremely lively guild made Mystogan smile, 'I truly love this place…' he thought and somehow Laxus heard his thought and decided to reply with a thought of his own, 'I do too,' he smiles and chuckles at the shocked but amused look in Mystogan's eyes and walked over to the bar already asking the lovely Mirajane for a drink. The latter shook his head and smiled under his mask closing his eyes. Suddenly all happiness fades in his mind as his brown-golden eyes fly open, 'It can't be…!?' His thoughts swarmed around his mind as he rushed out of the guild as fast as he could. Laxus noticed this and furrowed his eyebrows but allowed his mate to go alone. Shrugging, the blonde finished his drink and soon started to converse with the Thunder Legion….Little did he know….

The cloaked figure ran through the rain quickly becoming drenched as it started to pour down with the clouds getting dark and stormy. "No….Why now…?" He asked himself out loud racing to the middle of the town and whipping out his staves. Mystogan brought out a burst of magic energy in an attempt to shut the magical energy away but to no avail; it was too powerful! 'I don't have much time left….I have to get to him….!' He thought in distress weakly limping from in his exhausted state only to run into Wendy and urging her to leave Magnolia at once. When that failed a blinding light surrounded Magnolia and the last thought Laxus heard from his mate was his name, 'Laxus…!'

Still on Earthland, Mystogan quickly searched for any remainders finding Natsu and Happy, Wendy and Charla, then Gajeel and finally Lucy sending them all to his native world; Edolas.

Now on Edolas, Mystogan had only a few moments to recover from making the trip back to his birth world and looked for any sign of his friends. After searching for a while and unable to find anyone, his tired feet ended up leading him to the small hut the Exceed named Pantherlily raised him in. While stuck in nostalgic memories he heard a deep voice call out to him. Whirling around his eyes widened, but he was sure the person in front of him wouldn't recognize him as he still wore his hood and mask. "L-Lily…?" The large and well-built Exceed gave him a confused look, "Do I know you?" He asked blinking his dark orange eyes. Biting his lip, Mystogan reached up and removed his hood and mask slowly glancing back up at him, "Hello, again, Pantherlily…" The other's breath hitched as he stopped moving completely. When he came to his senses he dropped to his knees bowing, "My Prince…!"

Mystogan walked over to him and knelt down, "Raise your head, Lily," he asked him, "You know I am no 'prince' here now." He admitted quite sadly. "It is still in your bloodline, Prince." The cat didn't meet his gaze. "Lily," The former 'prince' hooked his finger under Lily's chin and raised his head, "Bloodline or not, can you not greet an old friend with a smile?" He asked him a small smile gracing his lips. With a heavy sigh from the onyx cat he smiles, "If that is your wish, prince." Thanking Lily he wrapped his arms around his neck and shoulders, "I missed you Lily…" He said in a whisper holding back tears of joy to see his guardian again. Lily hugged him too and rubbed a soft paw over his back, "I missed you too," Mystogan leaned back and wiped his eyes then looked straight at the cat, "Lily, I need to see my father. I must get to the castle," The knight nods and stands up, "I will help you do that, prince." Mystogan offers him a smile and stands up too.

Lily takes him over to one of the many tree stumps from cut down trees and pulls out a scroll rolling it out over the stump, "Here," he points with one furry finger, "is the entrance you're taking in, and here," he points to a different location, "is the only way out, and it's heavily guarded, but fear not, my prince, I shall take care of that. However, the rest is up to you," He nods scanned over the map and then puts his gloved hand on Pantherlily's paw smiling up at him, "Thank you, Lily, It's a relief to know I still have allies here."

"I will always be of your service," he says bowing slighting. Mystogan returns his bow and then glances over at the map once more, "Shall we go, then?" He nods, "We shall." Now the reunited pair set out on the path to the castle however Mystogan was sure that if Lily wasn't there he would have surely lost his way as remembering his way around was extremely difficult. Once at the castle Lily had the entire guards gather outside so that Mystogan could wander freely throughout the castle. Taking this chance Mystogan slipped through the doors of the castle and slowly made his way up the familiar halls and corridors.

Once all of the soldiers were on the lawn, Pantherlily walked back inside making sure there was no one else around. A gust of wind blew by the cat and when he turned towards it Mystogan was there glancing around and then stopping his gaze on the cat, "We have a problem…" he whispered. "Excuse my asking, but what exactly is the problem?" he asked looking around. Everything seemed perfect to him. "I can't get into the chambers," He stated meaning his father's chambers, "nor the prison, I can sense that one of my friends is there," he furrowed his eyebrows, "Those shouldn't be locked," Lily placed a paw on his chin thinking, "Are you sure?" Mystogan nods, "Yes, there was a barrier around both as well…I couldn't break it with my magic I fear it's because of the limitations here."

This causes a smirk to form over the Exceed's lips, "Then maybe someone without magic can break it." His cape swished as he turned to head for the prison. "Lily…!" Mystogan called out to him causing the knight to stop and turn towards him, "Yes, my prince?" he asked, "How can I ever repay you for this?" he asked him fully intending to pay him back and somewhere deep down the exceed knew that boy was too stubborn not to give it to him. He gritted his teeth, 'the only gift you could possible give me, prince, is you.' He wanted to say that but pushed those thoughts away, "Do you love someone?" he knew it seemed completely off-topic but he had to ask. Mystogan's eyes widened at the questioned but softened as he thought of his lover, his mate, "Yes…" He nods his head looking at Lily through his blue bangs. "Then that is all I'll ever ask. The way you'll repay me is that you promise me you'll always have someone to love." The Exceed smiled widely. The man almost started to tear up and he nods again, "Yes, I promise you that, Lily." And he smiles underneath his mask even though he knows the black cat can't see it. "Thank you, my Young Prince," With that he starts for the prison hoping he'll be able to open it. His cheeks flare up in pink at the nickname they used to use and shook his head smiling, "Dear Lily, will you ever just call me 'Jellal'?" He questions himself then running off in the other direction heading back to his father's chambers. The big cat chuckled hearing his question, "How could I ever?" He said to himself.

After attempting numerous combinations of spells to unlock the barrier Mystogan was running out of magic power and was currently leaning up against a wall that was hidden in the shadows. "Don't stress yourself, prince," Lily chuckled slightly as he pull his sword out. "Lily…!" He said in surprise at his sudden appearance. He pushed himself off the wall, "Did you find anyone?" He asked worried. Shaking his head Lily took one swipe at the enchantment shattering it into pieces. "No, it seems any prisoners have escaped, sir." Mystogan bit his lip, "Where are you Laxus…." He muttered to himself distressed over finding his mate. "It's open, Your Highness," Lily's voice brought him out of his thoughts as he opened the door bowing, "Thank you, Lily!" He says quickly and walks into the room searching around. "Anything for my Prince." The exceed whispers and takes the job of looking out for the wretched king. Upon his search, Mystogan found blueprints, drawings, and notes of machines that run on magic energy but one in particular caught his attention. "'Dragon Chain Cannon'….?" However just before he could look any further into it Lily rushed inside and closed the door, "We must hide!" Mystogan's head perked up, "It is my father?" Lily nodded and stopped him from going to the door, "He's not the same man," He warned him. Looking down Mystogan got an idea and then ran over to one of the many doors pulling it open, "Lily come with me!" He whispered extending his hand to him.

Lily followed him over and cringed at how small the closet space was, "I don't think I'll fit…." Not taking 'no' for an answer Mystogan rolled his eyes and yanked him inside their bodies pressing up against each other's and he closed the door far enough to just be able to peek through. With his head turned away from Lily, he watched the King come in the room in a fury of fits followed by Byro the Chief of Staff of the Royal Army. "Where are all of my guards?!" He huffed sitting down angrily. Mystogan furrowed his eyebrows and Lily's face was bright red, or well, as bright as it could get through his black fur. Deep down, he always had a thing for the young Prince Jellal and being this close to him made his heart hammer against his chest. Mystogan turned back to look at Lily their noses rubbing against each other's causing his lips to part slightly at the proximity of the two. The cat stiffened and didn't move, 'So close…' he thought closing his eyes to take a deep breath, "Lily…." Mystogan whispered to him, He raised an eyebrow opening his eyes, "Are you alright?" He asked worried about him. The cat nodded slowly and peered through the crack.

"Bring me Pantherlily!" King Faust order Byro, "Certainly, my King," he bowed with his creepy laugh and left to find the Exceed. Mystogan overheard that and turned back to Lily, "We must move….!" He whispered. "There is no where we can go. Do you not notice we are trapped in here?" He scowled him quietly. Mystogan looked out again and gasped, "Oh no…." He chewed on his lip. Lily reached a paw behind him and felt against the wood; "Shh…" he put his paw to the prince's lips and then backed up into the darkness. His paw pulled Mystogan in with him, "Secret passage way," He smirked and Mystogan smiled and followed the Exceed throughout the passage way holding onto his muscular arm. "This should lead us outside…" Lily said as they had to feel around the walls to know where they were going. "Lily…?" Mystogan's voice came through the darkness, "What is….What is the 'Dragon Chain Cannon'?" he asked him stopping his walk. The blueprints and notes had him worried and he needed to ask. Lily stops and sighs,

"It's….Well—you see…It's a special cannon created for the annihilation of the Exceeds….It will be powered by the magic power that comes from the dragon slayers… We plan to hook it onto the floating island carrying the lacrima you know as 'Magnolia' and crash it into Extallia creating a massive amount of overflowing magical energy. The king thinks that doing this will give Edolas unlimited magic power…." He lowered his head knowing he was about to be lectured. Mystogan's eyes widened, "No…!" He turned around to run back to his father in an attempt to negotiate with him but Lily called him out first, "Jellal, don't!" He yelled using his first name, "You can't change his mind!" He stopped and whipped around to face the Exceed with tear strung eyes, "Not only will he kill your family but he'll kill mine too…!" I can't just let that happen!" He cried. "I'm sorry, but if you got to him, you'll die!" Lily protested, "As your guardian I can't let that happen!" Pantherlily didn't enjoy the scene of making him cry and he felt bad about it but he knew that there was no helping it right now. Jellal turned on his heel again the tears falling from the corners of his eyes, "I have to try…I can't just leave them…!"

Lily lunged forward and grabbed his arm turning him back, "You can't! There is no way to break that lacrima! Even if there was, don't you think I would've sought it out already? I don't like this way either but it's the King's orders." Reeling his arm back the boy turned away from him again, "Can't you see what he is doing his wrong?! Will you willingly stay idly by doing nothing to try to save your own kind just because it is HIS orders…?!" His yelling had caused his mask to slip down just over his chin. "I can't! There is nothing I can do! The only reason I have stayed by his side this long is because he is using filthy threats to keep us in place. My race might be about to die but at least it won't be because of my own foolishness of stepping out of line!" The cat was at tears now and Mystogan relaxed his body, "Lil-Lily…." The Exceed cursed under his breath and pinched the bridge of his snout. Mystogan reached his arm up and took a hold of the back of Lily's neck pulling him in to a hug. The other was shocked at first but then nuzzles his face into the crook of his neck wrapping his arms around his middle. "I am so sorry, my Prince." He mumbled against his clothes. Mystogan's cheeks heated up a bit but he stroked the back of his neck to calm him down, "It's alright…I…I shouldn't have listened." He admitted. The cat pulled his head back a bit, "No, it is my fault for lashing out at you," He said staring into his eyes Mystogan doing the same, "But I have no right to order you around like that…" He looks down at the ground in shame.

Then rolling his eyes Lily says, "Shut up," and lifts Mystogan's chin and connects their lips. He tries to step back but he was caught by Lily's arm tightening around his waist and then pulling him together. Trying to push him away Mystogan presses his hand on the cat's chest, "Mm-mm-Lil-y…!" He managed to break the kiss for a second just to say his name. The cat takes one paw up and rubs his side knowing it would make him squirm and after he did just that he pulled them closer together. He tries to push Lily back but it wasn't working to well, 'No…I can't do this…Laxus…!' He thinks about his mate who is probably trapped and unable to hear him right now but he did get a reply, 'Mystogan…?' Lily finally pulls away from his lips leaving Jellal nearly breathless. "I-I am so sorry, my prince…" he apologized, "Lily…why…did you…?" He asked through pants but was silenced through a hug. "I have always held feelings for you, Jellal, please forgive me for being unable to hold them back." The cat whispered and then he ran off as the sleep mage fell to his knees. "Lily…!" He tried called after him but he seemed to not hear him. Then he reached up and touched his lips.