(A/N) To clarify, Lucy and Natsu are about thirteen right now, Levy is twelve, Gajeel is fourteen, and Wendy is six. I know, I used the term young woman for Levy. Opps.
Two swords clanged and clashed in the courtyard below the balcony of a bedroom. In this bedroom, a young teen was getting up to the dawn sky that flittered through the arching window. He stretched his muscles and ran a hand through his raven black hair. He did push-ups, calf stretches, jumping jacks, and sit ups to get ready for his morning run around the palace.
A knock broke the fourteen year old's morning warm-up routine. He grumbled before shouting "Come in!" He didn't expect a pink blur to rush into his room and barrel him over in a body tackle.
"Come on, Gajeel! You're too slow!" a rapid voice said in a flurry of energy and heat. The tackled teen stood up from the ground and slapped the tackler behind his head. "Shut up, Natsu! I'm coming!"
Natsu grinned despite the blow to his noggin, and ducked out of the room. He stuck his head back in to yell "And also, Lily is giving us a lesson today!" Gajeel sighed and rubbed his metal studded nose. "Of all the brothers I could've gotten, it had to be him."
Gajeel donned his tunic and boots and dashed out of his room to begin his morning training.
In the stables
A blonde was cleaning the dirt off of her chestnut colored pegasus. She always treated this pegasus with more care than most other beasts. Sure, she took care of the other animals with the best of her talents, but there was something about this one that drew her in.
The pegasus bucked suddenly back as a bee hummed near its ear. The teen regained the beast's cool by patting and whispering reassuring words. "There, there Michelle. It's just a bumble bee."
The beautiful winged horse relaxed and nuzzled its head into the nook of the girl's shoulder. The warmth of the animal's head comforted the golden locks human. It was a familiar feeling that she always enjoyed after the death of her parents, the previous rulers of Ylisse.
Of course the girl had the stand in Exalt and the staff, but there was always something missing.
"Princess?" a firm yet sweet voice called from the entrance of the stable. There stood a pink haired woman with black and white armour. Beside the woman was a tall, imposing man with white hair and white beard. The man wore a standard servant's uniform with no doubt some concealed weapons.
"Virgo, Capricorn!" the princess said. The two adults came into the stable and looked at the prized Michelle that the girl took so much pride in. "She's a fine beast she is, Miss Lucy." the old servant inquired while giving the pegasus a pet. Michelle leaned into the pat and snorted with approval of the attention.
Virgo smiled and went to another stall. A gray pegasus poked it's head out and nuzzled the armor clad pinkette. "Are ready to take Michelle out today?" The blonde nodded with excitement and quickly unlatched the door to Michelle's stall to bring the pegasus out to be saddled.
Capricorn helped the princess put on the proper saddle and muzzle arrangements. Even if she was able to do it on her own, she couldn't quite reach as far as a seasoned Pegasus Knight could without a step stool. Plus, the old warrior wanted to be of use before going about his duties for the day.
Once the gray and chestnut colored pegasus were ready to go, Capricorn lifted the princess up and set her on the saddle. She pouted, but still smiled and the man saying "I can do it myself, you know!"
Capricorn chuckled and rubbed her head. "I know, but I missed helping you like I used to." Both shared a hug, the servant whispering "Work hard today, Miss Lucy."
Lucy and Capricorn broke the hug. The girl squeezed the torso of her winged horse lightly and leaned forward, comfortable doing so after years of training. Virgo was waiting outside, already making lazy circles with her pegasus.
Lucy patted Michelle's head and got low of the saddle. The pegasus moved with her, preparing to take flight. The two waited in the perfect moment when man and beast became one. All was silent as the wind slowed to a halt. It was a beautiful day for flying.
The golden haired rider then raised her body up, the pegasus opened it's wings and flapped. The grass around the two flattened at the sudden change in airflow. The horse lifted into the air and began its flight.
"Today, I'm going to get better!" Lucy shouted into the wind as she leaned forward to go faster. Michelle let out a call to the clouds, as if to agree with her master.
Ylisse Garden Training Grounds
"Right foot! Left foot! Faster now, Levy! The kingdom is depending on this very moment!" Freed yelled as he watched Levy spar with one of the Thunder Legion.
Levy dodged left and landed on her right foot to weave back. Her sword was in her bandaged hand. Another fire attack caused her to roll forward under the fireball and pop up to get shoved back by a lancing poll smacking her in stomach. She stumbled back and leaned on the hilt of her blade. Her vision blurred as she tried to stand straight, but ultimately she just fell to her knees in pain.
A taller man stood smirking over her, his helmet covering his face as always. He stuck his tongue out and picked the girl off the ground by the collar of her shirt. "You were so close this time, squirt!" The man placed her on the ground. Levy wobbled, but she breathed and raised her head.
The man smiled and handed her a sword. "Now, one more time and you get a break." The cavalier walked back to his side of the training ring.
Levy got low and widened her stance. Her sword was clutched in her left hand, still twitching and wanting more. Freed had his hands behind his back, but he held a tome under his arm. "This time, focus on Bixlow and me. Don't just take it one step at a time." the greenette said.
Bixlow charged, shoving the training lance at the apprentice's chest. She flipped backward and hit the ground dodging. She weaved and played offense, keeping her eyes on the fight while waiting for Freed.
Freed took his tome in his left hand. raising his other to direct the magic. "Elfire!" he shouted, a ball of flames hurling at Levy. She saw it like last time, but instead of rolling on the ground she waited until Bixlow struck again. Time began to slow at that moment. Everything happened at the speed of a snail.
When the cavalier struck, Levy side stepped and did a bridge backwards to avoid the fireball. When that threat was gone, she did a back handspring. As she did, she snapped the wooden lance in two.
Bixlow flinched. It was only a second, but it was still a moment where he was defenseless. She knew that he wouldn't raise his lance to get it burned and lose faster. All Levy had to do was wait and pay attention to the Bixlow. Unfortunately, if Bixlow had a metal lance, she would've been overtaken.
She took the opening and rushed at Bixlow. Levy shoved the hilt of her sword into his gut and knocked him down. Before he could get up, she pointed her blade at Bixlow's throat.
The battle was won.
Freed clapped, breaking the two from their ending positions. "Very good, but if that was a real battle with metal weapons, you would've lost. We will work with metal weapons next time."
Levy sighed and flopped on the dirt. She was beat from four hours straight of ducking and dodging. Bixlow sat up and ruffled the blue hair of the tactician in training. "Not bad, But Freed's right. You need to start thinking about shadowing the Thunder Legion on some patrols around Ylisse."
Levy closed her eyes with a grin and nodded. She alway liked it when Bixlow ruffled her hair. He was the closest thing she had to a brother and Freed was like a Dad. The third member of the elite team, Evergreen, was her big sister figure. SHe would at least be comfortable with them.
Freed walked over to the pair as Bixlow stood up. "Well, I gotta run. If Lisanna finds out that I tried to escape shopping with her, Mira will be after my head." With that, he removed his helmet to reveal dark blue hair and left to go into town.
Levy got up as well and dusted herself off. Freed looked down on his apprentice, sizing her up for her next phase of her training. Sure, she has fought with real weapons before, and she has bested many in using such weapons. The question still remained if he should take her into an actual battle or not.
She was still young and had yet to lead a charge, and besides; She had enough to think about. Between preparing to succeed him and studying to know everything about everything that goes on in the kingdom. Not to mention her history and tactics studies along with sitting in on all court meeting that took place three times a week.
Freed wasn't going to pressure her with anything more that she had right now.
"Hey Freed?" Levy asked, tugging on his sleeve. He looked down at her amber eyes, speckled with gold and full of promise. "Yes, my student?" he asked. She shifted her feet and unwrapped her bandage. Once it was unraveled, it revealed a strange mark that only he knew of. It was the color white outlined in blood red with two intertwining ribbons. Both ribbons had three menacing eyes that seemed to peer into one's soul just by looking at them.
"Have you found out what it means?"
The man had been asked this many of times since she first showed him this mark. He couldn't quite guess what it's origins were, but for whatever reason, he felt as if he shouldn't find out.
"I have not." Levy looked down in dejection at his answer. It was no secret she was curious of her missing past and she just wanted to know about where she came from. Freed patted her head and she lifted her chin to meet his gaze.
"Fret not little one. All things come in due time."
She played with the fabric of her pants as she spoke her counterargument.
"But what it doesn't? What if I'm stuck not knowing forever?"
He sighed and lead her away towards the palace to continue the day forward. "Then it simply wasn't meant to be discovered in this life." His chin was held high as Levy saw on with wonder at the man's confidence.
"Even if that is true. Life is uncertain and there will be many unanswered questions." He turned his dark eyes on her once again, a smile crinkling his cheeks.
"But at least it's a good life."
She nodded and wrapped up her hand. "Yeah, a good life indeed."
"Yes dear girl. Now let's go make some battle plans!" Freed exclaimed, raising one pointer finger into the air. "Mark my words! Today is going to be a great day!"
"Yeah!" Levy copied his enthusiasm, pumping a tiny fist along side him. 'Today's the day I'm gonna be a hero! I can feel it!' she thought with glee.