The black stallion galloped through the jungle at quicker pace. Gajeel knew very well that if he was delayed even by a second, the game will be all over. So, he loosened the reins after leaning forward and standing on the stirrup thus signaling the animal to move faster. The horse responded to the commands of his master and proceeded steadily.
Meanwhile, two shadows lurked behind Gajeel and was keeping up pace with him without his knowledge. They had their faces covered with helmet and were wearing heavy armors on their body. Finally, they overtook Gajeel and stood before him blocking his way. The way was too narrow and steep and it was very difficult for Gajeel to take a diversion. So, unwillingly, he pulled the reins and halted the horse on its track.
One of those two figures came close to him, removing the sword from the scabbard and pointed it to his neck.
"Gajeel Redfox, I always knew that you were a back-stabber. Levy being proved to be in their side just cemented my guesses. Now, leave His Majesty to us and be prepared to die." The figure thundered.
Gajeel started chuckling which soon turned into his traditional guffaw. He scratched his head in amusement and then stroked his chin with his fingers.
"Gray Fullbuster, ain't it? Is your mourning over your sister's death over? Aren't you conveniently forgetting that you too have a back-stabber in your blood-line?"
Gray removed his helmet and roared. "So what if she was a back-stabber? It was borne from a mis-understanding which she paid with her blood and I'm proud of her for that." Tears trickled down his eyes.
The other figure came close to him and patted his back. "It's alright, Gray. Don't heed to barking dogs and let us get on to our mission." The figure then turned to Gajeel and gazed at him sharply.
"Gajeel Redfox, unsheathe your weapon. I shall be your opponent."
Gajeel chuckled again.
"Oh! Now it is Madame Titania? I don't care whoever my opponent is. I will cut you both down with my sword and accomplish my mission." He sounded pretty determined this time.
"And what may your mission be?" Gray asked with contempt. "It's not like you are the only person who knows to cut down. We also know to play our cards well."
"Well, then let's see, who's gonna come out of this?" Gajeel said with a smirk while focusing on his enemies. He knew that he can face one of them head-on and if he is lucky, he may even win provided he plays his cards right. But two is just too much. So what to do? He pondered deep. Suddenly, he got an idea.
"Hey the space is too narrow. Why don't we move to an open space and duke it out where I'll face both of ya ala battle-de-royale ?" He tried to sound natural much to Erza's and Gray's chagrin.
Erza and Gray looked at each other and nodded.
"It seems like you are so adamant to die and booked your coffin while coming here. What makes you think that you'll survive both of us?" Erza roared. "And also, do you even know of the gravity of the crime that you've willingly committed? Wait for His Majesty to recover. You'll be reminded of your true state of origin."
Gajeel guffawed once more mockingly and turned his horse in the opposite direction and gestured them to follow him. Gray and Erza did not think much as it was a steep curved path with hill on one side and a ferocious river on the other side.
"What is that?" Gajeel asked pointing up the sky. Instinctively, Erza and Gray just looked up and that was the only opening that Gajeel needed. He jumped into the water current leaving the horse and the sick person (unconscious Jellal) on top of it. He had taken care to secure the antidote in his clothing before jumping down.
Though Erza and Gray were shocked in the beginning, they rushed forward to the edge of the cliff; but they were too late and couldn't spot even traces of Gajeel.
"I hope he stays dead", muttered Gray. "I always had thought that he'd back-stab us. It is beyond me that why someone like His Majesty who have keen eyes in recognizing people even trusted him."
At that time, they heard a groan from the horse-back and rushed to it. Both of them slowly removed the King from horse-back and laid him on the floor. Gray immediately went to fetch water. Erza saw that he was sweating profusely and she did not have any accessory to remove the sweat; so she removed her top and wiped his fore-head.
He was having problem with breathing and his chest was heaving hard as if it needed a supply of fresh air. She understood what need to be done and slowly moved towards his body. She was shaking as a whole and was in fact trembling. Her heart was racing at its all time high and was just sweating more than ever. She pulled herself closer to his chest and slowly moved her face towards his. At that moment, his chest started rising a bit higher and she hurriedly placed her lips on his and started breathing in to supply him air. She did it with the utmost caution and care so that he will not be burdened.
Sooner, his heart-beat returned to its normalcy and she slowly got up and put on her top. By that time, Gray had returned and both of them slowly opened his mouth and poured the water in the camel skin-bag on to his lips and slowly made him swallow it, droplet by droplet.
Gray said, "let's move on to the north, Erza. There is a wonderful apothecary there who can cure any illness."
Erza nodded and both of them mounted their horses with Gray carrying the sick person on his horse-top.
"Any idea why he left his prey to us and jumped like that?" Gray asked.
"I think he was so sure that His Majesty will die without his antidote that he did not even care." Erza replied thoughtfully.
"I think that is it, too. Anyway, let's move fast and save the King." Gray alerted and both of them took off in Godspeed in their horses.
The sun was setting in the west. Its red hue was evenly transmitted in the horizon thus indicating the end of a journey. But the evening sun shone majestically even at its last stage of journey. Soon, the stars will be up and the night will start invading the space once which had been claimed wholly by the Lord of the Earth.
He had always loved the night. The darkness associated with it, the coolness and tranquility it brought to calm down souls and the mysterious creepy aura associated with it. It was just too fabulous. But wait, what is happening? From where is this bright light coming? It is tormenting me with its liveliness and spirit. I cannot open my eyes for the light is burning me alive. Was it always like this? He mused.
Then he brushed the strands of the unconscious person who lay near him on the boat. It looked like he was sleeping peacefully free from all the worries of the world.
"Natsu….." He whispered. "You have grown up as a fine young man. Now if only….if only you could do it. If only you could heal all those torments that I had held closer since thirteen years. Where were you Natsu all this while?" He told himself while a drop of tear found its way down from his eyes.
The bamboo boat moved across the river slowly but the rower did not pay any attention to his passengers. It seemed like he was doing this on a regular basis and knew when to hold his tongue and when to put it into motion.
"High Lord, it seems like we've reached." He said politely.
Zeref suddenly woke up from the daze and nodded. Then he asked the rower to put the young man on the aisle of the chapel and then retreat. As soon as he did, Zeref gestured him to depart throwing off a cloth bag of gold coins at him which the rower gladly accepted. Now whatever happens is not his business, so he hasn't seen or heard anything. The rower told himself and disappeared soon enough.
Zeref lit candles in the chapel and alongside the body of Natsu. Then he opened an empty coffin kept in the deserted chapel and said in a low voice.
"Ellie, have you seen who has come? It's him Natsu….our Natsu whom we had thought was lost. He is back, honey. "He sobbed, then he slowly got up and opened another coffin in which lay a skull and pieces of bones.
"Mavis, did you know, your son is eager to face me head-on in a battle? Can you believe it? Someone is actually showing courage to confront me in battle? "His voice was calm and emotionless. "How could someone born from you be so foolish, younger sister? Why doesn't he realize that he is cursed as much as I? I'm now curious, Mavis. How is he going to claim her when it had been prophesied long back that he will kill her with his own hand like me? "He stood up and brushed his hair. "Jellal, my nephew, my dear God-son, unleash your true nature and show me that despair is what rules the world." He stared at the distant horizon with a bleak expression on his face.
Princess Lucy's Chambers
"Honorable Princess, we are sorry to cause such inconvenience to you. But we cannot help it. We are just following the order of the new Prime Minister, Lahar. So kindly bear with it." The guards bowed to Lucy politely.
Lucy stood like a stone and asked, "What is his order? Is it to kill me secretly? Beware loyal dogs of Lapointe, I'm a Princess and I can fight until the end. I may be a little weak when you compare me with my brothers or the fierce fighters of the country like my cousin. But I cannot be bothered by the likes of you."
She removed her sword and danced with it like a fairy for a moment cutting two. Then she sprung up, made a turn and cut down the other two. Their blood oozed on to her face leaving a trail of crimson on it.
"Who is next?" She roared. The guards were awe-struck. The lass whom they thought to be a delicate flower that will wither in dry sun, strong torrent or hailstorm is capable of doing this? The lady whom they thought non-capable of hurting an ant had actually wounded five of them? They started trembling at these thoughts and moved back making way for her to move.
Lucy took the cue and hastily made way to the exit where she had secretly hid her horse with help from Dan Straight. She did not think that Natsu could so easily be defeated by Roger." Where did they take him? May be to prison?" She mused. But she thought it is better for her to not do anything for the moment other than seeking help. "May be I'll seek Uncle Igneel's help. After all, he is Natsu's Dad."Smile returned to her face and she felt like she is fully charged and fired up after making the resolve. With determination on her eyes and courage stemming from her beliefs, she knew that nothing could stand in the way of her freeing Natsu.
2 Hours later in the Palace
"What are you talking about? Are you telling me that she escaped from under your nose? And you are telling this now to me? Ridiculous." Sting slammed his fist on the top of the table.
The guards were shaking with fear. They knew that the noose has been tightened on to their neck.
"Relax, my lord. It is not like she might have gone far away. We'll try to find her out." Rufus said relaxingly pouring himself a glass of wine.
"Rufus is right, Lord. I think you should pay more attention to the King now as it seems like Gajeel has played his part of the bargain well. To think that, I could just wrap him around my fingers…."Levy smirked while sipping her wine.
Sting put his hand over her shoulder and said, "Levy, I think you are right. But my worry here is what if she went and sought assistance from Igneel and assembles the Dragon legion. We'd be lost in the beginning itself."
Levy brushed her chin with her thumb and fore-finger thoughtfully. "There is a way to prevent that my Lord." She seductively looked at Sting. "Invite Igneel Dragneel to the royal palace. Deploy army on top of the mountain pass near the entrance of the capital with huge boulders. Drop it as soon as they pass through the mountain pass. Not a trace of dragon legion will be seen. However fierce they are, they are after all humans, aren't they, which will make them prone to human vulnerabilities. "
Sting was astonished at her wits. "Wow, Levy. Too bad, Jellal did not know your true talent. You might have out-done even him in the department of intelligence."
Levy stroked Sting's cheeks with her fingers and smiled. "Your Highness, you are flattering me too much. I cannot even hold a candle to the former King. But do you know? I hate him. I hate him with all my heart. He is the one who wiped my family while making me survive and watch the horror of it." She gulped her wine in one stroke. "I may not be physically comparable to him;but I have a brain as nasty as him if I put it into use properly." She wiped her tears and asked Sting of leave and left the room.
"What was it all about, Rufus?" Sting asked pouring himself wine.
"Don't you remember the war we had last time with Era? Her family was caught for treason and assassinated promptly by the King. He did not execute her because she was proven to be innocent at that time. She pleaded to him repeatedly that she was the culprit and not them. But due to lack of evidence, the King or his allies did not believe her and thought that she was lamenting owing to the misfortune that hit her family." Rufus concluded.
"So Jellal thought that I'm pretty incompetent and concealed all the important events from me? Great going, indeed! I will prove to him who is the best leader in the end though I may not measure up to him in any of the basic physical or mental traits as there is one more factor which decides the victory which is nothing other than luck. Thank you for enlightening me with the story, Rufus. You will be appropriately rewarded." Sting then marched out of his chambers followed closely by Rufus.
Mard Geer's Chambers
"Where has Master disappeared? I had been looking for him from the noon. It seems like he was upset after seeing Jellal like that. Strange that he didn't ask me to release him. What is going on in Master's mind? Has he finally found that I was worthy to be his disciple than that masochist fool?" Mard pondered. He was disturbed from his train of thoughts by the knock.
"Come in", he ordered.
Kagura came inside, in a disheveled manner. Her clothes were tattered and numerous scars covered her body from which the blood was dripping out.
"Was that you who set Juvia Lockser to exterminate me?" She asked without hesitation.
"My, my, another strong lady? Why are you in such a pitiful condition, dear? Maids, take the young lady with you and change her outfit." Mard glanced at Kagura lustfully.
Kagura moved forward and put her sword just underneath Mard's throat. "You did not answer my question, young lord."
Mard watched her with amusement. "Oh! You are going to kill me. Shove it deep inside, if you have got the guts." He caught the sword with bare hands and kicked her straight on her belly. "Don't even dream of standing up and succeeding against me. Though I have a weakness for hot women, I don't mind thrashing them and feeding the wolves after my use."
He then called the guards. "Guards, tie her up and put in my bed." The guards knew the strength of Lady Mikazuchi well. So they hesitated. Mard understood their fear. He just pulled her from the floor by her hair and slapped her, rendering her unconscious. Then he asked the guards to continue with his previous order which now they did willingly.
Mard hungrily looked her from head-to-toe. "Not bad. She could be my lady-in-waiting until Erza returns. " He then turned his back and frantically uttered.
"Erza, my darling, I'll lay this whole Kingdom before you. Where are you sweet-heart? I should have stolen you the moment you were captured not waiting for Master's decision. I lust for you, darling. I want you so badly in my life. You fill the void which nobody could. Come Erza, come."
One day later, Secluded Hut in the North
The dimly lit hut in the forest was hidden from view as its structure was actually camouflaging its appearance. It was made from the materials available in jungle. But today its premises were too hot as a heated argument was going on between two distinctive personalities of the Kingdom.
"What are you telling, Erza? I cannot leave you and him like this and go. He has just recovered from a dreadful poison and even then hasn't regained consciousness. I'm an honorable Knight. I have to do my duty." Gray said angrily.
"But Gray, you have seen the message that the Dove messenger just brought. You have to be His Highness's gladiator. The match is set for tomorrow. Only if you go now, can you reach there on time." Erza said anxiously.
"I care more for his safety than all this gladiator nonsense. Even if it is over, what is the big deal, Erza? We can lead a revolution and conquer back our lost lands once he has regained his consciousness."
"None of you will have to go for I have decided my candidate to participate." Both of them were startled and turned back swiftly to see Jellal standing on the door-step holding the hands of a little girl of about twelve.
"What is your name, sweetie?" He asked her.
She looked innocently at him and said shyly, "Wendy. My Grandpa Robaul was the one who cured you. "
"Really? Could you just call him for me?" Wendy nodded and ran out to find him. She quickly made her way into forest and disappeared. Her movements showed that she was well accustomed to the ways of the jungle.
"And who might that be?" Both of them chorused as soon as Wendy left, after bowing to him and showing their respect.
"Natsu Dragneel." Jellal replied nonchalantly.
"But…." Gray looked down in anxiety.
"Do you doubt my motives, Fullbuster? I have my own reason for doing that which I don't wish to disclose now. Nothing went wrong in my calculations - even Levy betraying and Gajeel playing the pawn was included in it right from the beginning which was why even when I knew nothing of Gajeel, I made him mix with Levy. "He then looked at Gray. "The only part where I went wrong was Ultear." His throat cracked.
"But your highness, Natsu was missing from the castle according to the latest reports we received." Gray said politely.
Jellal twitched his brow and stood thoughtful for a moment. "In that case, we ought to reach the castle quickly and free him. Call the dove messenger. I need to send a message to Laxus."
Both of them looked at each other in surprise. "But your highness, Laxus is…"
Jellal smiled and cleared his throat. "I need to be thankful to Juvia for this one. She just baited Kagura and made the escapade of Laxus, Mira and Lucy easy though she had the help of Lily, Cobra and Azuma in that. While she did the fore-ground work, they did it in the background."
"So, you weren't unconscious at that time?" Erza was getting impatient.
"Of course not, Sweet-heart. My body is resistant to poison as I was fed it from childhood to prevent such incidents. But I became a bit nauseous and soon became unconscious. And that is it."
Erza still could not believe what she heard. But by that time, Robaul who was a short old man returned with Wendy and confirmed what Jellal has just said.
"I was a loyal tenant of King Makarov and it was I who looked after Jellal from childhood. He grew up here ever since he was born until the death of his parents. Then High Lord Zeref came and took him back to the Castle. The High Lord had brought a new-born child with him whom he asked me to raise until he returns and that is Wendy. Jellal forgot all about this when he reached the palace." Robaul shuddered.
Jellal patted him with reassurance. "Wipe your tears, Robaul. I'm taking both Wendy and you with me. I want to know why High Lord had kept you in seclusion."
He then moved close to Erza and whispered in her ears. "I think nowadays, I'm prone to have more shortness of breath. In that case, don't hesitate to give me air and also follow the same ritual that you have done before. " Erza blushed beet-red and her hair and face had the same shade. She felt like Cupid was now playing games at her in the form of him.