Another addition to New Year as I was free the whole day.
Thx a lot for the reviews. I'm glad that many of you liked the chapter. Please continue to R/R and do let me know your opinion.
Mid Morning, Clover Town
The residents of Clover town were highly enthusiastic that morning for they were going to meet a savior who could change their lives. They were ready to do anything that he commands and were even ready to sacrifice their lives for his sake. The taverns were decorated and the inn-keepers made sure that they had at least one room vacant that day in case their savior wants to rest and checked their stock to make sure that when he comes, he wouldn't be hungry or thirsty.
People from the neighboring places as well as the residents waited for him patiently in the large open ground. He came at the right moment in his black stallion. The crowd started cheering him up with high spirits. He raised his hand and asked them to be silent. Then he went and stood in the platform at the centre and started addressing the crowd.
"My dear fellow country-men, I'm glad that many of you have answered my call and gathered here. That itself shows your commitment to go against slavery and protect your honor and pride. What is the purpose of living for long years if you don't feel any pride in it? It is what that truly makes you what you are. If you don't stand up for yourself, then who will? It's time to decide, folks. Do you want to live as dogs or lions? Your future depends upon that."
The crowd echoed."We want to live as lions and not dogs."
"Very well, then. Raise your weapons and cut the chains of slavery. Remember you are your own masters and no one can dictate…"
There was a rain of arrows from all the corners, three of which hit Vince Gale which suddenly shocked him stopping his movements. The crowd panicked and started to run only to find that they were trapped as the entrance and exit to the park were locked. The soldiers who encircled the circumference under cover removed their blankets and started to cut down the people who tried to climb the wall and escape.
The archers who were in the middle layer were successful in landing 5 arrows on him but still he removed his sword and started cutting down the soldiers who ruthlessly attacked the public. Ten or twelve soldiers promptly circled him thus trapping and attacking him from all the directions. He sprang up from the horse at high speed, rotated his body spreading his legs and cut the heads of all the 10 down.
Now, 20 soldiers surrounded him and he still managed to cut them but got wounded in the process. Then again, another 20. The number of batches of soldiers encircling him seemed endless. There wasn't an area in his body not decorated by red. Gashes, cuts, wounds and bruises were increasing giving more outlets to crimson. But still, he didn't resign. Like a wounded tiger, he fought back not caring about his survival. Finally, his body began to give away as he became heavily wounded.
"Surround him, men. Don't stop. Our strategy is working. He is worn-out and tired. Now, is our time. Keep on surrounding him and attack him from all the corners until he falls." Sting screamed at the top of his voice.
"So, you are in charge of the carnage, Sting? Aiming for your brother's head to be the King? Sorry but I wouldn't allow you that as long as life runs in my system."
He sprang up and fought even more vigorously. Rufus ordered them to do a sneak attack from behind.
Mirajane bent her head down in shame and said with contempt. "Pretty shameful to attack a single person with 100s of soldiers. His Majesty would never have done that. I'm going to stop it and if you want, you can execute me too like that."
"Expected pretty much that from you, kitty. After all you are a woman and when you see a man being hurt like that, your heart will melt, isn't it?" Rufus held her hand firmly smiling deviously and put hand-cuffs in it. "If you resist, your siblings under our custody will be killed."
Mirajane looked down in pain. She wanted to save him but …
"Is she trying to revolt, Rufus? Put cuffs on her hands and legs." Sting ordered.
"Already done, Highness."
Mirajane was shocked to hear that word from Rufus's mouth.
"What did you say?" She hissed. "Our King isn't dead for God's sake."
"So what? He will be, soon. Who do you think that is?" Rufus asked pointing to Vince Gale and continued.
"He is the King in disguise playing the role of Savior of millions. We already knew it and hence this charge is intended to capture him dead/alive. Do you know? Public will be shocked when they learn that the King was fooling them pretending to be the revolutionary and leading them to be killed by his army. They will demand his execution and it will be done publicly if he is alive. Since he is already a traitor, he is no longer our King and Prince Sting is our current ruler."
"His Highness is a traitor? Don't you dare say such things about him. "She spat on Rufus's face.
Sting came back and slapped her. "How dare you insult your superior? Guards, gag and throw her in a horse-back. I will see to it that her whole family suffers for what she did."
Meanwhile, the heavily wounded Vince Gale fell flat on the ground. He had killed almost a company before collapsing!
"He is a monster, destroyed almost a company single-handedly!" Soldiers yelled not knowing who it was.
Rufus and Sting came forward and asked them to move apart. Rufus put cuffs and chains on his hands and legs and asked the soldiers to bring a stretcher. After he was laid on the stretcher, they pulled the muffler to see the face.
"My….My… Bad luck, your lordship. This isn't your brother. Your path to the throne remains more distant."
Sting's face contorted in disappointment and he muttered. "Laxus Dreyar, how dare you mock me like that?" Then he said aloud, "Soldiers, take him to the royal medic right now and make sure he is saved; else none of you will live to tell tales. After all, I have to assassinate him in Public for trampling my dreams."
Mirajane watched with horror when the stretcher passed close to her, unable to utter a sound.
Two Hours back, Flavia graveyard (Flashback)
Jellal after seeing off everyone, dressed up as Vince Gale and was about to leave when he heard a sound and turned back.
"You have out-done everything, Jellal." Laxus came with a smile, clapping his hands on his horse-back. He was wearing a purple shirt and a black fur over-coat with white fur on its edges. He got off from the horse and walked to Jellal.
"Laxus, where were you? If you were here during the meeting, why didn't you come out? Don't tell me that you are cooking something serious." Jellal patted his back.
Laxus folded his hands and said calmly. "I met Cardinal Lapointe that day itself and understood that he wasn't innocent as you thought. I decided to stay in his castle to find something fishy. During night, I thought I heard a sound and just sneaked into his balcony from a tree-top. I heard about their plans to burn the castle. I knew that however fast I travel I won't reach there on time. At that moment, someone stroke me from back and my lights were out for 2 days after which I escaped without their notice only to find out that I was now a criminal."
"I thought to make use of that opportunity to find about Vince Gale as I always knew it was you owing to the fact that you were never interested in finding out about Vince's whereabouts and you used to change topic whenever this fact was brought. I came late yesterday and thought not to disturb you as you were busy with her. "
"Today morning, the dove messenger brought me shocking information which made it clear to me that there was a mole in your camp and hence refrained from attending the meeting and waited for you until everyone went."
"By the way, where are you going, Jellal? If it is to Clover town, then please don't." His expression changed.
"Why?" Jellal asked anxiously.
"I got information from reliable sources that 5 companies of soldiers are waiting there under cover to capture you as Vince Gale. Then they'll publicly expose you and finally assassinate you."
"Did that mole expose me?" His voice was wavering.
"I think so."
"But I need to go. They are waiting for me. If I don't go, their hopes will be crushed. They will never stand up for themselves and crawl up into their caves waiting for nobles to exploit them. So, I will go and don't care if I die in the process." Jellal said firmly.
"No, you won't as you have a Kingdom to protect. If you are so adamant about attending that meeting, then I will go in your place."
"Laxus, but…."
Laxus bowed on one knee. "Please give me this chance to serve you, Highness. I will forever be indebted for allowing me to show my loyalty."
Tears welled up in Jellal's eyes. "Promise me that you won't die. I swear that if you get captured, I will save you at all costs. Go General, Go show them that with what mettle that we warriors are made up of and make me proud."
Then they changed costumes and that was how Laxus came in place of Jellal that day in Clover Town.
Present Day, A forest near Crocus
"You didn't do it right, Ultear. After all, he was your husband." A handsome man dressed in high-collared red robes with a white toga draped around his torso said while leaning on the couch.
Tears overflowed from Ultear's beautiful eyes.
"I… I did that just on a whim. I wanted to see him suffer even if it was for a moment." She clasped her hands tight and continued while gritting her teeth. "I wanted to show him how it feels like when someone close to you betrays your trust."
She paused and looked down.
"But in the end, I….. I became a wife again who will do anything to protect her husband."
"But Ultear, it is too late. The moment you said those words of fate to Cardinal Lapointe about your husband being Vince Gale, his fate was sealed. Now unless Cardinal has a change of mind, nothing could be done."
"Nothing… nothing could be done? " She became horrified and promptly bent her head on his feet. "Help me High Lord, help me. Help me save my husband." She broke down utterly at his feet.
He bent down and held her shoulders thus making her rise. "What is this, Ultear? You need to bear the cross of your actions. After all, you are not a kid anymore."
"I'll bear it, Lord and I promise to go away from his life, once he is saved. Please do something to save him Lord. I know that no one will disregard the words of a pious soul like you who has no worldly desire." She pleaded in utmost humility with panic.
"Well, as you said, I had sworn to stay aloof from worldly desires, which is why I have chosen this forest as my home. Please don't tell me to break my oath and get involved in worldly matters." He said calmly with half-shut eyes.
"He is your protégé, Lord. The only person in the world whose command he obeys without even thinking about it. He looks upon you as his pillar of inspiration. Don't desert him, Lord." She shook him violently. Now she looked totally disheveled and nobody would have believed if being told that she was the Queen of the empire.
"Alright I agree on two conditions. You will behave as a proper Queen from now on and won't create any trouble. Agreed?
She nodded whole-heartedly.
"Jellal will always remain my favorite student. So if he is facing any problem, you will come to me even if it is from you or your family. Agreed?"
She nodded again. He got up and wrote a letter in the end of which he signed his name – Zeref.
He summoned a dove with a whistle which came and landed on his palm. He patted it gently and said, "Pika, the world keeps on summoning me however much I try to stay clear from it. Don't worry, I will be back soon. Just hand over this letter to Marde Geer." He tied the letter on its legs and sent it to distant skies.
Lucy's team was on their way to meet the representative of Tenrou. They heard the 'hot' news of Vince Gale being captured while they were eating lunch, which Erza disregarded as rumors spread by nobles to weaken the spirit of Public.
"Unless there is a mole in our camp, it is not going to happen." She said confidently.
"Mole? Doesn't it live in soil?" Natsu asked innocently.
"Fool, I meant a betrayer." Erza was irritated.
"Who is a betrayer?" Natsu asked putting his fingers inside his nose.
"Idiot, someone who sells off his team for their selfish reasons." Erza's mood was becoming nastier.
"But we should never do it, isn't it? Otherwise what is the meaning of friendship and trust? I would never do it in my life. I will protect those who trust me and who are weak like you two." Nash said beaming with confidence.
"What did you say?" Erza thundered and Natsu became instantly scared.
"Sorry, I didn't know that you were a demon." He bit his lips.
Erza instantly smacked his head and laughed which she hadn't done in years.
"You look gorgeous when you smile. " Lucy said patting her shoulder.
Erza was embarrassed and looked down.
"She is right. You look cute when you smile, Erza." Natsu stuffed a loaf of bun into his mouth.
"I wanted to talk to you a number of times to clear your misconceptions. But brother did not allow me to." Lucy spoke warmly squeezing Erza's calloused palm within hers.
"His Highness really loves you." Erza said with a smile.
"I know. That is why he sent me with someone he trusts the most." Lucy looked at Erza naughtily.
Erza blushed again. "You flatter me too much, Princess. I am a Knight and I will protect the life entrusted to me with my life."
"Hey, then, what about me? Don't I do the same?" Natsu stuffed the remaining eatables too into his mouth.
"I guess idiots will always remain idiots." Lucy said and both of them laughed heartily not knowing about the shadow that was about to encroach their lives sooner.
Gray Fullbuster could not believe his ears when he heard the news. He stopped on his tracks and looked at Gajeel suspiciously.
"You are not a mole, aren't you?"
"Don't worry your lordship. He does not have the brains for that even if he wishes to be one." Levy giggled.
"Shut up shrimp or else I'll smack your face." Gajeel was irritated. "Lord Fullbuster, I wouldn't betray a person who trusts me with his life. You could be sure of that. I'd rather doubt you instead as I know that you hate the King's guts for going after that Scarlet chick."
"What did you say?" Gray removed his sword angrily and pointed it to Gajeel's neck. "Doubting a Fullbuster's loyalty? We are and always were truly loyal to the Kingdom and the royal family. You would never find a betrayer in our family. Even thinking about betrayal is a sin in my family which is why even if I dislike his highness's treatment to my sister, I remain tongue-tied. If it escalates, I will fight a duel with him for my sister and embrace death rather than betraying the trust. The moment I chose to betray, I will slit my throat. "Gray was shivering from head to toe.
"Alright, I quit." Gajeel raised his hands accepting his defeat.
Gray stared at the afternoon sun that was shining with all the blazing glory for a moment and soon directed his team to move forward with conviction in his eyes.
"You can come out Doranbolt." Old King Makarov said locking his chamber from inside.
"I hope Jellal is safe." Makarov poured wine on to two glasses and offered one to Doranbolt which he took readily.
"That is what I would like to think of. General Laxus had sent me a Dove messenger informing the truth about His Highness being Vince Gale. I wasn't surprised as I know the noble character of His Highness. It was then, I knew about His Excellency's intentions from Minister Yajima regarding Prince Sting. Then I told Lord Yajima to keep track on him which was how we got information about the Clover Town conspiracy and it was I who messaged General Laxus about it."
"But I still lost a grandson in the end." Makarov said with tears in his eyes sipping his wine.
"General Laxus is not yet dead, my Lord. He might be saved."
"Why? Just for their sake. To shame his loyalty, ban him as a traitor and then execute him publicly. He'd rather die on medic's table than that."
"But his Highness….. He might save him afterwards."
"I know that Jellal is strong but so was Laxus and see what happened? They are only humans and not Gods." Makarov drained his glass. "But I never thought that Ultear would betray her husband owing to her origins as a Fullbuster. But Sting- how did he change so much? Jellal used to tell me that Sting had a rebellious streak hidden within him. But I… I never believed it. Always thought of him as a clueless brat."
"By the way, Doranbolt, hand over the treasury to Jellal at the earliest. Send a message to him regarding its location in code language and also another message informing everything about Laxus . Do it soon. I don't want both to be fallen into Sting's hands." Makarov commanded.
Doranbolt bowed and proceeded to follow the orders after descending to the underground passage in the room.
Night, Border town of Hargeon
The harbor was filled with people. The last ship was about to depart. The ticket counter was full and finally all the tickets were sold out. The people who didn't get the ticket started pleading with the authorities stating their reasons to go urgently to which the officers were unyielding as ever.
A young man was watching all this bemusedly sitting in a tavern on the banks. A white turban covered his head and a green scarf covered his nose and mouth. He was wearing a dark blue cloak and his body was mostly covered in bandages. He was sipping his booze occasionally raising his scarf and was enjoying it. Another man who was dressed again in a dark blue cloak came and sat near him.
"You are late, 'Bolt. The ship is about to leave."
"But my Lord, we are going in the pirate ship which is anchored in the middle of the sea. We will go there by that wooden dinghy." The other replied calmly.
"Going to carry the Gold in the pirate ship? Have you gone senile?" He mocked.
"Right now, it will be the safest mean to transport gold to avoid all the unnecessary checking. There is risk which I agree with. But I think that with the help of our young friends Gray and Gajeel, we can deal with it." He avoided last names to avoid eavesdropping and hence detection.
"Have they reached the port?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"So, then, what are we waiting for? Let's move." He drained the contents of the mug into his throat and stood up not forgetting to hide his sword.
"I think your Lordship knows about all the events that has transpired in the capital today." Doranbolt got up.
He nodded. "I won't let those sacrifices go vain. I will save the distressed and deal with my family once I come back." He walked forward with firm strides holding his head high in pride befitting his position as the King.