Chapter 4: And Our Fates Keep Twisting
"I do say! If my trade isn't invested in more, I will cut your kingdom off!"
"Shut up old geezer, at least you have trade! And what does our village have? Swine I tell you! Swine!"
"Swine is an important and profitable investment! What do you have to complain about?"
"The bloody smell, that's what you dimwitted sausage!"
"How dare you call be Duke Of The South a sausage!"
"All of you need TO SHUT UP!"
Both bickering lords looked up from their fight. The woman who had called them from trying to outdo the other ran a hand through her light blue hair. "I swear, one more word and both of you will be thrown in the river!" she said, rubbing her aching head. "I'm getting a headache. If you two can't come up with a solution to the rock fall in the south, I'll appoint new leader of the Southern Trade and the town of Tinderholt. NOW OUT!"
The two men flinched and left the courtroom and the steaming Exalt behind with their heads bowed in shame. The lady however was nursing her pounding head.
"I gave up my commander position for this shit! Lady Layla, why did you have to die before the girl's coronation?"
She lifted her head as person approached her. It was the old butler Capricorn with a canteen of water and a pill from the labs of the palace. "For your stress, Lady Aquarius."
Annoyed with her title, she took the water and the pill, downing them with a gulp and a lick of her lips. "That's Aquarius to you, ya old goat. You and I have been allies for too long for me to be above you." The Exalt set aside her canteen and stretched her arms as the light colors of her dress shimmered like the ocean surface in the room. "Plus, it makes me feel old."
Capricorn nodded and took the canteen and gave it to a nearby servant who took it away. "I spoke with Miss Lucy today before her ride, Aquarius."
"And, how is she?" she asked. The man looked at one of the stained windows. A scene of a pegasus rider haloed in light riding her steed into battle made him remember the old days of the twelve Zodiac generals. Them and their fearless leader riding into battle were some of his best days.
"She was focused and driven today. Virgo had to use her full potential in order to best our princess." Capricorn looked at the rider in the window, watching her golden hair fall in endless waves of yellow splendor. "She has the makings of a true warrior and falcon knight. Just like our late Layla, if I dare say."
Aquarius left her throne and walked down the marble steps in silence. Her hands folded in front of her with practiced grace. It was no secret she tried to keep herself composed and always looking her part. What people didn't know, she always did so with tongue and cheek.
"We'll see about that, Capricorn the Seagoat."
The old general grinned and slicked back his gray hair that was flecked with white splotches curling in the shape of horns. "Yes, Aquarius of the Great Ocean."
At the knight's training grounds
Natsu squared off with his raven haired cousin, Gajeel, in a duel to see who was the strongest. The pinkette had stood his ground and attacked quickly and powerfully. He was always dancing like his name sake, The Fire Dragon Slayer. Gajeel though was still as tough as nails. He wasn't the son of Metalicana for nothing. That was why he was nicknamed the Iron Dragon Slayer.
"Getting tired?" the pierced boy taunted, waving his sword with a cocky smirk.
Natsu gritted his teeth and rushed at the fourteen year old. "Like hell I am!"
The two then began ducking, side stepping, and lunging at one another with their eyes locked on each other. If Natsu tried to stab, Gajeel would get around him and hit him with his elbow. And if Gajeel came down with a hilt smash, Natsu would duck and sweep Gajeel's feet out from under him. The latter would just get up and try again before Natsu could gain the upper hand.
They had trained together for far too long and knew each other's movements by heart. Even so, they still found ways to try and find a weakness to overtake the other.
A shadow passed over the two. Looking up, they saw a chestnut pegasus and a white and black one chasing and colliding in a mock aerial battle. Gajeel knew it was Lucy and one of the twelve generals sparring again and took the chance.
He rammed his full weight into his opponent, gaining a yell of surprise. He disarmed Natsu by swinging his sword away from his grip, and pointed his blade at his cousin's throat. He had won the fight.
"You should stop ogling over the princess and start getting serious. It's your fatal flaw!" Gajeel said with a proud grin at winning the round again. Natsu frowned and batted the sword away, going to retrieve his own.
"What if she fell off? Who would catch her?" He dusted off his training blade and put it in it's hilt. "We are supposed to protect her."
Gajeel laughed his strange laugh before sheathing his own blade. " Gihi! From what? A cloud that sneak attacks her to take the throne? I'm pretty sure she'll be fine. Lucy knows her way around the sky."
"But that doesn't mean we can't be too careful." Another voice piped in. Pantherlily captain of the royal guard and the knight overseeing the two's training stepped into the ring with his dark skin soaking in the morning sun rays and all their warmth.
"I know, I know. But the kingdom hasn't seen war in years. We're fine." Gajeel replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
The old knight chuckled with grim undertones lacing his voice. "You'd be suprised my students. Things can change in the blink of an eye." The dark eyed man looked at the two pegasus knights in mid flight stopping to take a break. With his old vision, he could still see the two shaking hands and talking before heading back to the stables to rest their mounts.
His pupils had looked on with him in confusion. The knight continued as he turned and left the circle. "You may enjoy peace now, but always be ready. Training for this morning is over. Go get some breakfast and we'll meet back here later for ground practice. Look sharp and represent Ylisse well."
With that, he walked away out of earshot to the men that were gathering for the morning report. The boys started walking back to the castle. They were silent as they went, but their mentor's words rang true in Gajeel's head.
"Things can change in the blink of an eye."
"You may enjoy peace now, but always be ready."
All Natsu could think about was seeing Lucy over a hot meal.
In the war room
"So if we move some troops out to the border today, we can dispose of the issue at once and avoid war if possible."
Freed put his hands behind his back the twelve generals had been standing at attention for the tactician. His apprentice stood taking notes as they convened in the war room. The topic was the king of Peligia's announcement to step down from the throne and hand it over to his advisor for an unforeseen amount of time. He said he had loose ends to tie up. When the advisor took the throne though, he wasn't to cooperative with Ylissen border guards. Skirmishes had started popping up and both kingdoms agreed to meet on the border and discuss the issue.
Aquarius tapped her chin as she looked at the map of the continent. Blue and Purple markers clashed with each other on the line that separated Ylisse and Pelgia. If it continued, she would eventually have to act. It was either do something now or later.
The exalt turned to the tiny girl taking notes. "Let's see what you think and if Freed has trained you well. What should we do?"
Levy looked up at her ruler with amber eyes a glow. Her eyes then disappeared behind her lids shutting to think. She visualized each scenario in her mind. If they went right away, they could prevent disaster right away if the king was willing to compromise. On the other hand, if it turned out that it was a trap, lives could be lost and war would definitely ensue.
She reopened her eyes. It was clear that the choice was tough and not suitable for someone such as her. Even if, they had faith she had listened and learned and that was enough to put action into her ideas.
"I say we agree to meet. If he truly wants to make peace then let's hear him out. We'll still take a small force of powerful individuals though for precaution." She looked to Freed, waiting for his seal of approval. The man nodded to her and turned to the generals.
"Levy is right. If we put it off, the fights will continue and war will be the only path. It's better to go and try to make amends, even if war is what becomes of the meeting. We have to try and stop the sword before this country bleeds again."
The twelve in the room nodded. They were all there during the Great War between the countries. None could forget that moment that the previous ruler had called them to lead her armies and troops to battle with their sister country Pelgia. None wanted to see it happen once more.
Capricorn turned to the ruler and bowed with his hand on his heart. "What is your final say, Aquarius?" The exalt turned to her generals. These weren't just her brother's and sister's in arms. They were family and her closest friends. She couldn't lose more to the war that could become of such a trivial mistake.
She finally nodded. "Alright. I leave the preperation to you both. Meeting dismissed."
All the generals left the room as the two remaining tacticians walked over to the table to make the final arrangements.
"Alright, I say we sent the Thunder Legion, Leo of the Northern Sun, and Aries the Gentle Lamb. That way we will have some power houses if things go wrong, and a cleric to make sure that we mean for peace." Freed said, writing down a decree that will be spoken at afternoon court. Levy nodded and added "And can I come too? I could help with moving the documents and writing down notes on the event."
Freed looked up from his writing. He pushed back some green hair from his dark green eyes to look her over once. She hadn't done a field assignment in a couple of months and this would be her biggest mission yet. Then again, Bixlow did suggest to take her out on a mission in the near future. This may be the mission that could cement her status as the kingdom's successor tactician.
With a sigh he looked her straight in the eyes. "Go pack. We'll leave after group training."
Levy's irises lit up as she smiled from ear to ear. She turned on her heel, throwing one last comment before leaving for breakfast. "I won't let you down!" Her blue mop of hair vanished in whirl, leaving Freed to finish her letter. After making the last quill stroke, he peeked up at the war table. There were five sets of flags that crossed each other's paths. It was only a small number of incidents, but he knew better then to assume the least at a sensitive time such as this.
"I know you'll be a great tactician, but don't let your confidence blind you from the truth of all our destinies."
In the mess hall
"And then, I smashed his sword away and won the battle!" Gajeel gloated with a raised fist. Lucy l giggled as she sat beside an embarrassed Natsu who was hiding from the group of thirteen year olds at the table.
A black haired boy with a silver necklace smirked as Gajeel finished the story of the morning's fight. "Well Flamebrain, you really showed him up, didn't you?" he said with sarcasm lacing his words. The pinkette threw his biscuit at him shouting "Shut up, Gray! You didn't even get up in time to get your butt whooped by me!"
Gray grabbed the biscuit from midair and took a bite. "Shut up, moron. I was out with my dad. You two aren't the only ones with a cool mentor. The difference is mine is cooler."
Gajeel threw his head back and laughed at the comment while Natsu showed his canines with mischief glinting in his onyx eyes. "At least our mentor is chief of the royal guard and not just a second in command." he threw out.
Gray threw down his biscuit and drew up his sleeves. "You wanna go Salamander?"
Natsu stood as well, drawing up his sleeves and leaving his seat. "Bring it, Ice Princess!"
Before the two could leap over the table and start another brawl, someone from the entrance to the dining stepped in and whipped out an powerful wind magic tome.
"ELWIND!"
The two boys squealed as the were thrown into the air by a large tornado of controlled attack. The two remaining teens at the table looked at the spell caster to find a short blunette closing her tome and stuffing it in her satchel that she carried. People who were eating in the hall turned to see what the commotion was, but quickly went back to their meal.
Gajeel waved her over, smiling with his teeth. "'Bout time you showed up, shrimp!" The girl stepped up the table with her cheeks puffed out and a frown on her face. "My name is Levy, you jerk. And I'm still growing, so you better watch out!" She ranted while taking the seat right beside Gajeel and across from Lucy. The blonde leaned over the table and began her morning conversation.
"So Levy, how was your meeting?" she asked swinging her legs under the table. Levy pushed back a stray lock and stole a roll off of Gajeel's plate, much to his displeasure due to his scowl. Even if, it was still playful in nature. "We're going to be meeting the Pelagians at the border in three days time. If all goes well, a war can be avoided." she said, scarfing down her roll quickly.
"Slow down, you're going to get sick, shrimp!" Gajeel exclaimed, ruffling her hair and handing her his unwanted fruit. She gladly took it, sticking it in her mouth as fast as she could. After inhaling a piece of orange, she started gagging at getting it stuck in her throat. The boy beside her sighed and handed her his cup of water which she gulped down.
"Levy! That's not how a lady should eat!" Lucy scolded while Levy gasped for air at almost choking. "Sorry, but I gotta eat quick and go to court today!" She then turned her nose up and said "I'm going with the squad that's meeting for peace and I need to be there at the announcement."
Lucy clapped and Gajeel grinned. "That's great Levy! Today it's the peace meeting, tomorrow it's world assemblies!" her blonde friend gushed. The raven haired boy patted her head as she blushed at the show of affection. "Not bad, shrimp. Freed's gotta ask the exalt to knight you after this for sure."
"That's great, NOW LET US DOWN!" a voice from above shouted. The three looked up to see that Natsu and Gray were still suspended from the spell's tornado. Natsu looked sick though, his face slightly green. The other was just really upset at being in the air and forgotten for an entire conversation.
"Ops, sorry!" Levy snapped her fingers and the wind disappeared in a flash. The boys yelled as they fell and hit the ground. Both sat up, rubbing their bums and groaning from hitting the floor so hard.