In the following two weeks, Erza learned the ins and outs of being part of the Princess' Guard. The guards got back to their tightly maintained schedule after its disruption by the tournament. Each pair of guards, Natsu and Erza, Laxus and Gray, Elfman and Gajeel, had an eight hour shift every day. Natsu, being captain, took the hours between eight in the morning and four in the afternoon, as those were the times the Princess was most likely to be outside the castle and exposed. This meant that Erza also had those hours. Gajeel and Elfman had the hours between four in the afternoon and midnight. Laxus and Gray (Due to Laxus not caring and Gray making Natsu angry every other day) had the hours from midnight to eight in the morning. Since the Princess was nearly always sleeping during those times, the two divided it into four hour shifts and took one apiece.

The rest of Erza's schedule was quite demanding. She would get up with Natsu at least two hours before they were to go on duty to train every day. As soon as the two passed the Princess off to Gajeel and Elfman, they would go train a squad of regular castle guardsmen. Most of them had been rather mutinous at having to train with the red headed woman, or worse be taught swordplay by her, but after she had thoroughly beaten each of them in swordfights, they'd been much more eager. After dinner she had as much free time as she liked, but generally stayed in the guard's quarters, or accompanied Natsu to Fairy Tail. After they got over their surprise, the regulars at the tavern quickly warmed up to Erza. She got to know all of them quite well in a short span of time.

Most surprising to her was Makarov. After his seemingly cold reception of her, he'd been the quickest to accept her. She quickly learned that he was nearly as perverted as Gildarts, teasing her at almost every chance at the fact that she shared a room with Natsu, but was also a warm and kind man. He had started teaching her how to play chess, claiming that it would make her a better warrior, and that was where she found herself on many a night.

Erza stared down at the checkered board in frustration. Somehow, in only a few moves the elderly man had managed to trade two of his pawns, a rook, and a bishop for her queen, both knights, and both rooks. The red headed woman cursed, "Damnit! How do you keep doing that?"

The small man cackled as he took her piece, "I've been playing this game a long time. I know what you're going to do before you do it."

Erza frowned, "How can you know what I'm going to do?"

General Makarov leaned back in his chair and grabbed his mug of ale, taking a sip before saying, "It's all about getting inside of your opponents mind. I make one move, and then you make one move, and then I can see, from how you moved, what you're going to do next. Are you aggressive? Do you like to hoard your resources and be cautious? Are you willing to sacrifice pieces in order to push ahead? I look at you, and I try and answer those questions. If I answer them correctly, I win."

Erza was about to reply when a heavy hand came down on her shoulder and Natsu's voice sounded behind her, "Is the old man spouting his chess nonsense again?"

Makarov smirked and as Erza turned her head to glare up at Natsu he said, "Maybe if you'd listened to me you would have won more than three games against me in the last ten years."

Natsu only shook his head and chuckled, "No one can get inside your head old man. Besides, last time I beat you, you were so drunk you thought I was the Princess. It still took me three hours and losing most of my pieces to win!"

Makarov chuckled, "One day boy, you'll have to get better at this game."

The pink haired knight smirked and said, "I'll get better at this game when you stop drinking old man. Come on Erza, we need to get back up to the castle. We're taking the last part of Gajeel and Elfman's shift so that you have time to get your armor fitted tomorrow."

The red head nodded and stood up saying to Makarov, "Why don't we call this one a draw?"

The old man just shook his head and shooed the two away. Erza followed Natsu out into the streets. The sun was nearly down and twilight had silenced the normally bustling city. Natsu was saying something but the red head wasn't paying attention. She was deep in thought about another silent city that she'd been in, one not nearly so pleasant, 'Magnolia, at least, doesn't have the lingering smells of blood and death drifting through the air.'

"Oi! Erza! Are you listening to me?"

Natsu's outburst jerked her from her reverie and said somewhat acidly, "No, not really. I do not appreciate being talked to so rudely either!"

The pink haired man's face betrayed his shock for a second until a frown graced his lips and he turned away from her, continuing on to the castle while grumbling, "What's your problem? You seemed fine earlier."

Erza took a deep breath and then sighed, "I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

Natsu didn't turn back to her but he said, "Always a good thing to do."

The red head could tell from the set of his shoulders that he wanted her to continue, "The city is so still, it reminds me of something from a long time ago."

"And that something put you in such a bad mood that quickly?"

Erza frowned at the man's back as they passed through a small gate in the outer wall of the castle, "It's not something I generally care to remember."

The pair walked through the castle until they came to their personal armory. As Natsu walked in he turned to her and said, "So you can dig up my worst memory but you won't tell me yours?"

Erza stopped and was speechless, staring at the intense look on the knight's face. She sputtered, trying to find something to say when Natsu winked at her and his lips twitched minutely, threatening to break out into a smile. Erza's eyebrows shot up and she said angrily, "You were messing with me?"

Natsu threw back his head and laughed before saying, "Of course. What kind of ass do you think I am?"

The red head threw a punch at his face but he ducked and ran into the armory while she yelled back at him, "A very large one!"

The two quickly put on their armor, Erza could hear Natsu still chuckling and grumbled under her breath, "I'm going to get him one of these days. Perhaps rocks in his pillow, his head is so hard they won't hurt, much…"

With that cheering thought in mind she finished and the two left, quickly making their way to the Princess' room. Natsu knocked one, twice, and thrice, and then quickly went through the door. Gajeel and Elfman were sitting on either side of a table, their chairs knocked over and forgotten as they were leaned over the table, hands locked together in an arm wrestling battle. The knock had apparently startled Elfman and as soon as Natsu stepped into the room Gajeel was able to slam Elfman's hand straight into the table. While Elfman sobbed manly tears over his loss, Erza still didn't understand why he considered crying to be manly; Gajeel grinned and said to Natsu, "Third time today. If this keeps up I just might take that Beast Arm title from him."

Erza snorted and a pair of red eyes settled on her before Gajeel's gravelly voice sounded again, "You got something to say Red?"

"Can't you find anything productive to do with your downtime?"

The black haired man smirked, "I'm about to go do something productive. There's a little lady I haven't seen in a while, and a night off is just what I need to… rekindle the fire."

It took Erza a moment to get what he meant but as soon as she did color rose in her cheeks and she sputtered a few words before turning away from Gajeel and crossing her arms. Black Steel laughed and gave Natsu a mock salute before striding out of the room. Elfman followed him, tears abated, and Erza could hear him trying to arrange a rematch before Natsu closed the door behind them. Natsu chuckled and said, "You should stop letting him embarrass you so much. You do know what's going on there right?"

Erza turned up her nose at him and said primly, "I don't make it my business to know what sordid affairs my compatriots are involved in."

Natsu went over and picked up one of the chairs, setting it upright and sitting down before saying, "There's nothing sordid about it. He's very respectfully courting one of the Princess' handmaidens. When he wants to marry I can have him transferred out of the guard and into a different position so that it becomes possible."

Erza was dumbstruck for a moment, "You mean Gajeel can do something respectfully?"

This made Natsu throw back his head and laugh, holding his belly as he snorted and tried to stop before saying breathlessly, "I think that's about the only thing."

The inner door to the Princess' bedroom opened and a blonde head came out, "I thought I heard your dulcet tones Natsu. What are you two doing here?"

The pink haired man grinned at Lucy, "We took the last half of Gajeel and Elfman's shift so that Erza can get her armor fitted tomorrow. The master armorer has been an absolute nightmare to schedule with and tomorrow during our normal shift was the only time I could pin him down to."

Lucy nodded like she'd heard that one before and said, "Well, keep it down? I'm going to bed early because I have that breakfast with the Prince from Minstrel tomorrow morning."

Natsu frowned, "What do you think of him?"

The same frown passed over Lucy's face, "He's pimply, he has greasy hands, and those hands try to go places where they shouldn't!"

The pink haired knight grimaced and then said, "Well, I'll tell Gajeel and Elfman to be extra intimidating tomorrow."

The Princess sighed before admonishing, "I can fight my own battles Natsu."

Natsu grinned at her, "I know that. It doesn't hurt to have a few good swords at your back though."

Lucy smiled at him, "No, I guess it doesn't. Goodnight Natsu, Erza."

Both of them said their goodnights and the door closed, the lock clicking audibly a moment later. Erza turned to Natsu and said, "Well… now what?"

Natsu scratched his head and glanced around the room, "Well… Luce will sometimes let me have a book to read but she's already gone, and I doubt you want to arm wrestle."

Erza snorted and muttered under her breath, "Men…" before saying a bit louder, "You did interrupt my chess game earlier, it only seems right that you play a game or two with me to make up for it."

Natsu chuckled, "You just think I'll be an easy match from what the old man said."

The red head smiled predatorily, "Then prove me wrong."

A similar smile spread over Natsu's face as he said, "I do love a challenge. There's a chess set in the cabinet."

In short order they'd gotten out the chess board and set it up. Natsu grabbed the white and black king, putting them behind his back for a moment and then held out his closed hands, "You choose."

Erza deliberated for a moment before picking his right hand. It opened to reveal the white king and Natsu said, "Guess you're first."

They replaced the kings and sat down. Erza stared at the board for a moment before reaching forward to move one of her pawns. Natsu chuckled and matched her movement. They continued quickly, Natsu matching each one of her movements, leaving openings in his defense that Erza was quick to take advantage of. It was a quick game, Erza checkmating Natsu within 10 minutes. The pink haired man laughed, "Well, looks like you beat me."

Erza glared at him, "You threw that game. There's no way you're that bad at chess. I've only been playing for two weeks and even I know that you barely tried."

Natsu gave a devilish smile, "Are you sure? I could just be bad at the game."

The red headed woman continued to glare, "If you don't take me seriously I'm going to throw water on you every night for the next month while you sleep."

The pink haired knights waved his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Fine, no need to get so angry. Just remember, you asked for this."

They reset the board and as the loser, Natsu took white for the second game. This was also a short game, but in a brutal sort of way for the red head. Natsu beat Erza in five moves.

"Again!"

They switched colors and this time it took seven moves.

Erza stared at the board as her king was surrounded by Natsu's pieces. She then glanced up at the smug look on his face and said, "What the hell? You're better than General Makarov at this game!"

Natsu leaned back in his chair and smirked, "Yep."

The red head glared at him, "Why the hell are you hiding it?"

Natsu grinned at her, "For when I need favor, or when I want to make a bet. Challenge the old man to a chess game and then surprise him. It'll only work once though so I have to figure out what I want to win from the old man."

Erza shook her head, "You're insane. You intentionally lose at a game for years… just to win some hypothetical future bet."

The pink haired knight gave her a feral smile, "Oh yes."

Erza snorted, "I don't know what goes on in your head."

The Salamander tapped his temple and smirked, "Something I strive very hard to make sure doesn't change."

The red headed woman shook her head and sighed, "Shut up and set up the pieces again."

Natsu complied and they settled down to play chess until midnight when a yawning Laxus came to relieve them. The two knights fast realized how tired they were once they put their armor up and got back to their quarters, quickly going to bed. As had become their custom, Natsu put out the few candles and they both undressed in the dark. Erza shrugged off her pants and slid smoothly into bed in only a loose shirt and undergarments. It took a bit longer for Natsu to get in bed as he stumbled around the room in the dark, banging into the furniture and cursing under his breath. Erza chuckled and said softly, "If you didn't insist on having your side of the room a complete mess you wouldn't have such a hard time getting around."

Natsu cursed yet again; from the sound of it he'd stubbed his toe, "Damnit! If you didn't insist on preserving your dignity I wouldn't have this problem either!"

Erza glared at him in the darkened room, "Just because I joined a man's profession doesn't mean I have to act like one. I am still a woman, an extremely unmarried woman, so you have no right to look upon me that way."

Natsu chuckled as he finally maneuvered his way into bed, "Still on with that? Trust me; I'd rather not end up on the sharp end of a sword because I tried to do something indecent."

The red headed woman matched his chuckle and said, "Shut up and go to bed."

"Aye aye… Sir Scarlet."

Even after hearing it every day it still gave Erza a thrill to hear him say it.

The next morning Natsu woke up with the sun like he did every day. He slowly opened his eyes to find himself staring at blank stone walls with light shining off of them. A yawn escaped his lips and he sat up, rubbing his head and glancing around the room. The familiar sight of Erza drooling on her pillow brought a grin to his face and when a snore emitted from her a moment later he put his hand over his mouth to stifle a chuckle, 'It's the same every morning.'

Natsu got up and stretched before rummaging around in a drawer for clothes. When he was dressed he went over to Erza's bad and gently shook her shoulder saying, "It's morning, time to get up!"

The woman rolled over and swatted at him mumbling, "No it isn't, morning isn't until tomorrow."

Natsu smiled as the already familiar ritual unfolded, "If you don't get up I'll dump a bucket of water on you."

Just like every other day, Erza's eyes popped open and she said, "I'm up! I'm up!"

The pink haired man stepped back with a chuckle and then made his way to the door saying, "Our meeting with the armorer is soon, hurry up and get dressed."

Natsu stepped through the door and shut it behind him, surveying the outer room of the guards' chambers. Gajeel and Elfman were already up, scarfing down breakfast before they had to go on duty. He went over and sat down at the table with them, "Thanks again for covering for us. The armorer is a pain in the ass to work with."

Neither Gajeel nor Elfman replied, being far too caught up in eating, but both scowled in agreement. Gajeel finished chewing a piece of toast and rumbled, "Are you still training like a maniac every day?"

The pink haired knight grinned, "Not today, but every other day, why do you think I'm better than you?"

Gajeel's eyes bored into Natsu as he growled, "You're not. It's just been a while since we seriously went at it, and besides you got lucky last time."

"If you count cleverly maneuvering you around until you got trampled by a horse as lucky then sure, I got lucky."

Elfman snickered from his side of the table, "It's unmanly to let yourself get trampled by a horse."

The black haired knight swung his head around slowly to stare at his partner, "Do you want to go for four losses in a row Elfboy?"

Natsu burst out laughing as Elfman slumped over and grumbled. The pair quickly left to relieve Gray of his duties and Erza came out of the room, ready to start the day. She wore her normal loose white shirt and knee length blue skirt. Natsu grabbed some toast and bacon, making an impromptu sandwich before standing up and saying, "Let's go, if we're late the armorer will yell at us."

Erza grabbed her breakfast and they both left, Natsu leading them through the castle. Erza asked, "Why do I keep hearing bad things about the armorer? If he's such a pain why doesn't the king fire him and get a new one?"

Natsu shrugged, "He's the best. He's just… different."

The red head shrugged and they lapsed into silence. Natsu took them down through the side entrance and over into a part of a castle grounds that Erza hadn't been before. They soon came to a large fenced in area at the edge of the grounds, where there was a large forge, smoke already rising out early in the morning. Natsu opened the gate and led Erza through. They walked into the large building that housed the forge and heard the hammering that was coming from the back, along with the mutterings that went along with the beat of the hammer, "Men… Men… Men…"

Natsu shouted, "Hey! We're here!"

The hammering stopped and soon a large man appeared. He was bigger than Gajeel and Laxus, with hard muscle rippling through his arms and shoulders twice as broad as Natsu's. His face however, was… unfortunate. He had a medium length orange hair, a square face ending in a square chin, and a huge nose. He worse heavy pants and a light shirt, with a blacksmiths apron smudged with ash. His black eyes fixed on Erza as soon as he walked into the room, "Natsu, what is this excellent parfum?"

Natsu said with a straight face, "This is Sir Erza Scarlet. She needs personal arms and armor for her position on the Princess' Guard."

The man at once became professional, "That would be one set of chainmail, one full set of plate mail, and then a longsword?"

Natsu nodded, "Two longswords. She has a unique style."

They spent about two hours hammering out details, such as Erza's personal preferences about her weapons and armor. Finally the blacksmith said, "I see… Men. The last thing I need is measurements."

Natsu nodded and gestured Erza forward, "Alright Ichiya, do your thing."

Erza stepped forward and so did Ichiya. The man towered over her and inspected her critically, "She is dressed most improperly but has an excellent parfum. I can work with this."

He pulled a marked length of rope out of the pocket of his apron and began to use it to get Erza's measurements. It went fine as he measured her waist, neck, and shoulders, but when he attempted to measure her bust she punched him in the face. Natsu sighed from the other side of the shop where he'd moved to while Ichiya did his work as Ichiya rolled around on the ground clutching his face, "He has to do it if you want well fitted armor."

Erza rounded on him and said, "Have you heard what he's been muttering this whole time?"

"No."

The red heads eyebrows scrunched together in anger, "This man has done nothing but talk about my 'parfum', whatever that is, and has even called me his honey!"

Natsu stared at her for a few moments before he burst out laughing. He bent over and put his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath but one look at the anger on Erza's face sent him into gales of laughter again. She said stiffly, "This isn't funny!"

Natsu grinned at her, "This is pretty hilarious."

Erza crossed her arms, "I refuse to allow him to touch me."

Natsu crossed his arms, with the same grin on his face, "Well. Then how do you expect perfectly fitted armor?"

The dilemma was plain on the woman's face, "You're enjoying this aren't you."

"I think it's fairly amusing."

Erza glared at him, "If you think it's so funny. You get over here and do it because this man is certainly not going to!"

A look of surprise quirked over Natsu's face, "Why Erza, I didn't know you felt that way about me."

Both of them looked down at Ichiya as he began to try and get up. Erza snorted and put a foot on his back, preventing it, then went back to the conversation, "Natsu. Remember what I said about castrating you in your sleep?"

The pink haired man frowned and walked over to grab the measuring rope while muttering, "I'm going to actually throw a bucket of water on you one of these days."

Erza uncrossed her arms and allowed him to take the needed measurement but said smugly, "If you do, I'm sure that the Princess or Makarov know a few of your weak spots."

Natsu paled as he tossed the rope back on top of Ichiya's downed body, "You fight dirty."

Erza smirked, "No dirtier than your mind is. Now, are we done here?"

Natsu glanced down at Ichiya who said weakly, "I have the measurements I need. Men. I'll have the armor ready in a week."

It was Erza that led the way back to the guard's quarters, with Natsu walking behind her and sulking. Neither of them made much noise as they made their way back to their room, Gray was fast asleep on one of the couches, wearing nothing but his boxers, and through an open door they could see Laxus sacked out on his bed. When the door was shut Erza grumbled, "I wish Gray would wear some damn clothes, or at least not sleep in the common area."

Natsu shrugged, "You live with a bunch of men. We're not quite up to your standards of cleanliness, and Gray has absolutely no sense of shame. He's been arrested three times for public indecency; if he does it again I'm going to have to kick him off the guard."

Erza blinked, "I didn't realize it was that bad. I thought he only did it here."

Natsu sat down on his bed and snorted, "It actually isn't that bad. He's pretty good about noticing when he does it in public and putting his clothes back on quickly. However, we figured out he has a stalker who keeps stealing his clothes so he has to wander around nearly naked through the town."

Erza sat down on her own bed, "Who?"

"Juvia."

The red head gasped, "No! She seems very sweet. How does one of the Princess' handmaidens find time for that anyway?"

Natsu chuckled, "I have no idea. She's completely obsessed with Gray, it's actually pretty funny. I had a talk with her, I hinted that if she kept stealing his clothes he wouldn't be around for her to see anymore, and so now every time he strips in public she jumps him and tries to force his clothes back on."

Erza had to stifle a giggle, "That's too funny. Now I have something to use against him next time he makes a snarky comment."

The pink haired Knight lay back on his bed and stretched out saying, "I think he secretly likes it. I've caught him staring at her a couple times. Pretty soon I think I'm going to have to replace all of the guys on the guard. I'd bet in the next couple years they all get married."

He heard Erza's voice drift over, "I know that Gajeel has something going on, and now Gray, but Laxus and Elfman?"

Natsu laughed morosely, "Yeah. Laxus tries to keep it secret but him and Mirajane have been seeing each other for a year now. If anyone else knew but me there'd be a big commotion over the difference in their stations but I don't give a damn. And do you remember Evergreen?"

Erza had to rack her brains to remember but finally said, "The woman who does the books for Fairy Tail? What about her."

Natsu snorted, "She's taken a shine to Elfman, and I think he has to her. He's too dense to really know what to do but I'd wager she'll have him wrapped around her finger in a matter of months."

The red heads soft laughter drifted over to Natsu, "You seem to know everything that goes on around here Natsu."

"It's my job. How am I going to keep the Princess safe if I don't have all the information that I can get. Granted, some of it may not be pertinent to her defense, but it's still good information to have. I can start thinking about their replacements, who I'm going to train up, things like that."

Erza's next question was soft and he had to strain his ears to hear, "Why don't you have someone Natsu. You said it yourself, it's been two years. You're not going to get younger, you're going to get older and slower, if you devote too much time to this job and neglect your personal life, you'll have nothing when you're finally dismissed from the Princess' service."

Natsu propped himself up on an elbow and sent her a steady look, "Are you over that guy from Crocus yet? You said it's been what, five years? Plenty of time right?"

He could see that he'd caught her off guard with his questions, "What the hell are you talking about."

Natsu laughed grimly, "You know what I'm talking about. I could tell the first time you started talking about him that you were in love with him. Hurts doesn't it, to have him betray you, try and kill you, after all you did for him. Well, it hurts worse to see them die in front of you and not be able to do a damn thing about it. You're still not over it, and neither am I."

They both lapsed into silence, both deep in thought. Their minds went spinning through memories good and bad. They didn't speak a word until Natsu glanced out the window, cleared his throat, and said, "Come on. We're taking the last part of the shift. I'll give Gajeel and Elfman a break before their shift. Plus, I have not having something to do."

He stalked out of the room before Erza could answer and into the armory, quickly donning his armor. As he was leaving, Erza came padding in and as they passed he murmured, "Sorry. I just don't like to talk about my own love life. I expect to die long before I'm too old to serve, and that's good enough for me now."

Natsu didn't wait for her reply, but he did wait for her to don her armor before they both went down the long hallway and entered the antechamber to Princess' suite. Gajeel and Elfman seemed surprised to see them, but gladly took the extra four hour break. Natsu knocked on the Princess' door after the two hulking men had left and she opened it saying, "Yes Gajeel?"

Natsu grinned, "Do I look like that metal-head to you? I'm hurt Luce."

Lucy blinked and then said, "Well if you're saying you look stupid, then frankly I think you beat out Gajeel in that category."

Natsu held a hand over his heart and said in a mocking tone, "You wound me Princess. Your words are like a barbed arrow to my heart."

The Princess smiled and looked at Erza, ignoring the pink haired knight, "And how are you today Erza? Didn't you have a meeting with the armorer?"

Erza frowned and said acidly, "If I see that man again I shall break his nose, and his arms, and then his legs for good measure."

Lucy blinked again before saying, "That's quite a strong reaction. Are you sure that he deserves… that?"

The red headed knight crossed her arms and said firmly, "Yes. Anyone that sniffs me for two hours and then calls me, 'my honey', is going to receive an armored fist to his unarmored face."

Both Natsu and Lucy chuckled and the Princess said, "If you say so. I've heard stories about him, but… I've never given them much credence."

Natsu grinned, "I told you Lucy, he's a creepy guy, but he makes the best arms and armor in the country. Now, why don't we go down to Fairy Tail and get some lunch?"

The Princess glanced at a large clock standing in the corner of the room, "It's past noon already? I guess it is time. I don't have any more commitments today, especially after that breakfast with the Prince from Minstrel. That was awful."

Natsu put a hand on her shoulder and asked, "Nothing an afternoon at Fairy Tail won't fix right?"

As it turned out, an afternoon at Fairy Tail did fix it. The three went and had lunch, the crowd was thin because most of the regular patrons had duties in the army to perform, but as soon as the sun began to set the tavern began to fill. At four o'clock, Gajeel and Elfman had come to the tavern armed and armored to begin their shift, but Natsu and Erza stayed, not wanting to go back to the castle just to remove their armor and then come back. Laxus and Gray showed up around seven and Lucy remarked, "Odd. It's pretty hard to get the entire guard in one place at the same time."

Natsu, who was sitting next to her at the time, pointed to what the two were doing. Laxus was talking to Mirajane, who was serving him a drink like normal, although there was a slight red coloring in her cheeks. Gray was casually leaning against a pillar, shirtless, talking to a blue haired girl whom both Natsu and Lucy happened to know.

"No way."

"Oh yes. It's happening."

"For how long?"

"At least a year for Laxus and Mira. Maybe a few weeks for Gray and Juvia. I think her stalking has finally paid off."

With a wink at the Princess and a finger to his lip he said, "Keep it quiet eh? Wouldn't want anything to scare the new couple."

Lucy smiled in understanding and they both went back to what they'd been doing.

Around eight, Lucy announced loudly, "Alright everyone. I think it's time that I retire. It has been a long day."

Everyone began to wish her a goodnight, but the bar was instantly silenced when the soft toll of alarm bells in the distance reached them. The tolling quickly moved closer as more and more of the alarm bells around the city began to toll. All six of the Princess' guards were on their feet immediately, and a good portion of the other men. Natsu said quietly, "I don't think the Princess is going to move until we find out what those alarm bells are for. It might be a good thing that all of the guard is here, we may need them."