Hello my loyal readers! I just want to say I'm very happy with all the follows, reviews and favorites this story has gotten so far! So a big 'thank you!' to everyone who has done one of more of those things and I hope you will continue to support me.

This chapter is for all of you, and I hope you'll enjoy it!

Chapter 2: Future Kings and Princes

Prince Jellal, heir to the throne of Magnolia, was standing on one of the many walls that the royal castle consisted of. It was late at night and he looked upon the peaceful city beneath him, lost in thought. From up here, everything looked so far away and small, almost as though it wasn't real. But it was, he knew it was. Every time Jellal came up here to clear his mind, he was reminded that all the lights he saw lightening up the night weren't just that; lights. They were signs that there were real people living there. People who counted on the King, his father, to rule and watch over them and who would one day expect the same of him. The thought always frightened him. How could he ever hope to live up to these expectations? How could he know what was best for his people – for his country? How could he possibly hope to make the the right decision when the circumstances needed him to? These and other questions never failed to arise and make him feel powerless, today was no exception. He didn't have the answers, and yet today it didn't seem to matter as much. There was something about the clear night that reassured him, told him that he would find the answers in time and that he would just have to be patient.

"Your highness?" a sudden voice interrupted him from his thoughts. Jellal turned his head to see who had spoken. A smile made his way up to his mouth.

"Well, well, Laxus, have you finally learned how to address me properly?" he asked sarcastically, raising one brow as to question the other man's intentions.

The other man, called Laxus, chuckled lightly before replying. "Yeah..., I thought I'd try it out for a change." He shook his head, smiling. "And I was right; it doesn't suit you."

For a moment, it looked like Jellal would get angry for the insult thrown at him, then the prince began to laugh. "You'll never get tired of that one, will you?"

"Nope, I don't think I will. In fact, I think that once you're King it'll come up more often, because, come on, 'King Jellal I'? That just doesn't sound right..."

"Yeah, well, for both me and my father's sake, I hope that won't be for a long, long time." Jellal turned his gaze once more towards the view he had been previously looking at. "So is there a reason for your visit?"

"What? So a man can't come to see his cousin to have a friendly chat with him nowadays?" Laxus replied with feigned hurt in his voice.

"Oh come on, Laxus. That isn't the reason that you came all the way up here, and we both know it."

The playful demeanor the other man had displayed just seconds ago, suddenly evaporated and was replaced by a far more serious one. "You're right. I have come here to tell you your father wishes to see you at once. It seemed serious."

"You think it's the war again?"

"I don't know, but I think it would be best if you would go there as soon as possible."

"Yeah, I will," Jellal complied as he began to walk towards his cousin who had already turned around and began making his way down the stairs.

As Jellal walked through the many hallways on his way to the throne room, his mind was searching for an answer as to why his father wanted to see him at this hour. And yet he couldn't come up with any explanation. Jellal's relationship with his father was strained at best, but it hadn't always been like that.

When Jellal was just a kid, his father hadn't been the next in line to the throne. Instead, Laxus's father, Ivan, had been the Crown Prince of Magnolia. But after events of which Jellal had no knowledge, former King Markarov had banished Ivan and made Jellal's father, Firas, Crown Prince. To Firas, this had come as an absolute surprise, for he had always thought that his older brother would be the one to wear the crown. Because of this, he was completely unprepared for his new station and the burdens that came with it. He almost couldn't handle the pressure and that, combined with the grief of losing his brother so suddenly, made him turn as hard as stone. Gone was the kind and loving father Jellal had known. Gone was the one person he could always count on.

As for Laxus, he had been broken. The playful and kind cousin Jellal remembered had turned bitter and angry and not a day passed where he wouldn't insult the King and Prince in front of all the castle. Laxus had been cruel to the servants and his family alike, up to the point that King Markarov hadn't seen another option but to sent him away. As soon as Jellal had taken notice of this plan, he had run through the whole castle in search of his cousin, hoping that he could make him see the error of his ways and get him to stay. As he thought about that faithful day, the memories came flooding back slowly.

He had found him standing in the stables, ready to leave everything behind.

"Laxus!" Jellal had shouted. "Don't do this! Don't throw it all away!"

His cousin had slowly turned around, a bitter smile adorning his face. "Don't you see?" Laxus had said and had looked Jellal in the eyes. "I have nothing to throw away anymore. There's nothing left for me in this place."

Jellal had shook his head, desperately searching for the words that would make his cousin see how wrong he was. "That's not true, Laxus. You know it isn't."

Laxus had suddenly let out a laugh, but it had been without humor. "That is easy for you to say; you have everything that was once mine. Your father is the Crown Prince now, and therefore you get to be king someday as well. Everyone will look up to you, will want to be like you." Anger and bitterness had dominated his voice as he spoke the next words: "Your father isn't treated like a criminal! And you aren't treated equally because of that! You have everything you could possibly want! Do not talk to me about throwing away, when you stole everything that was rightfully mine!"

Jellal's patience was wearing thin, and he had started to become angry as well. "I didn't steal anything. I didn't ask for any of this, and you know it!" His anger had subsided a bit as he saw the look of hurt in Laxus's eyes. He had continued, his tone a bit softer: "Look, Laxus, I know that this hurts. I know that you feel that you have been cheated and betrayed. I know that, and yet I can't do anything about it. Anything but try to let you see that you are wrong to think that there is nothing left for you here." He had paused a bit to see Laxus's reaction, before he continued: "You have a family that loves you and would do anything for you. When Grandfather banished your father, his advisers pressured him into sending you along with him, but he wouldn't hear of it. He said that you were not his son and that you would never do anything to harm Magnolia or our family, because you had a good heart. And even today, when he gave the order to send you away, I saw how much it hurt him to do so. He had to keep up appearances because he is still the King, but I could see that he was torn up inside. So please, Laxus, don't hurt him anymore. Please come back to us, because we couldn't bear losing you."

His cousin had just stood there, dumbfounded and at a loss for words. Laxus's hands had slowly released the reins of his horse and he had walked away from it. For a second, Jellal had thought that Laxus was coming towards him, but his cousin had merely brushed past him as he had walked out of the stables. Jellal had quickly followed him, afraid of what his cousin might do.

There he saw Laxus standing in the middle of the garden, looking upwards. Jellal had followed his line of vision and that was when he saw him. King Markarov himself was standing on the royal balcony, for all to see. His right hand had been clenched into a fist raised high in the sky with only his index finger and thumb sticking out, it was the sign that they came up with as children to tell each other that they were always with them, even when it doesn't seem that way. Jellal tore his gaze from the sight and instead looked at Laxus. He saw that his cousin had tears streaming down his face. And that was when Jellal swore to himself that he would do everything in his power to become the best king he could possibly be, not only for his country, but for his family too.

From that day on, Laxus had dedicated himself to being a better person for both his family and the Kingdom of Magnolia, if not as a prince then as the Prince's closest friend and adviser. And Jellal couldn't be more glad to have him, seeing that Laxus had been trained for this job and Jellal wasn't. But he had learned and with everyday that passed, Jellal was more fitted to wear the heavy burden that was a crown.

As Jellal arrived at the throne room, he pulled his mind back to matters at hand, because he had a feeling that they would require his utmost attention. The guards and nobles present all bowed respectfully when he entered the room, but Jellal only had eyes for his father.

"Father," he addressed him and bowed lightly, "I was told I was needed here." The man sitting on his golden throne gestured for Jellal to come closer. Jellal complied.

"Indeed you are," King Firas said. He rose from his chair and let his gaze go over everyone in the room., then it returned to Jellal. "I'm sure that you know as well as any currently present here, the war we have been in for many long years." Not waiting for an answer from Jellal, the King continued: "And, knowing that, all the destruction, pain and death it as brought our kingdom. Brave men perishing on the field of battle, leaving family and friends behind, all to protect their kingdom. Famine, spreading through the country because the fields are left unattended, claiming even more souls. Yes, we all know the horrors of war, but what if I tell you, my son, that I have found a way to end it all, wouldn't you do anything to make it a reality?"

Jellal didn't need time to think, he had his answer ready. "Of course, father," he replied with determination. "I would be willing to do anything within my power to make that happen."

"Good, just the answer I was expecting from a future king." Jellal felt his heart swell with pride at his father's words. "Then I will share my plan with you; you are to marry Princess Erza Scarlet of the Kingdom of Hargeon in order to from an alliance and but an end to all this bloodshed."

Jellal had been prepared for may things out of his father's mouth, but this took him nevertheless by surprise. WHAT?!

And that's the end already! I hope you all enjoyed and please leave a review to tell me your thoughts and if you liked it.

I see you all next chapter, so untill then!

~ t.s.w.w