"Do you want to be treated like this when you have so much potential?"
This voice belonged to a red headed woman who goes by the name Erza. Erza Scarlet. She is nineteen years old and her look are enough to make any man fall for her. But, she wasn't interested in men. No, she was interested in freeing women from men. She was a feminist.
"Tell me! Do you want to be treated like this?" She asked again, hoping for a reaction from the crowd.
There was a string of murmurs but no firm opinion from the crowd. There weren't any men present in the crowd - only women. They had come to meet the others in the market square while the men were busy drinking or working. They hadn't expected a red headed teenager asking them for their opinion.
The speeches made by Erza Scarlet are famous. Infamous. King Acnologia had warned all the cities that she is the reincarnation of Satan himself. That she wants to misguide the populace. So, no matter what she said, the women would not be moved.
Except, like always, they were thinking.
'Why can't the men do the housework for once?'
'Can I actually choose who I want to marry?'
'Can I do jobs just like men can?'
Erza smiled to herself. She always succeeded in making the women join her side. Always.
"But," a woman's voice rang out over the waves of whispers of the crowd.
"Yes?" Erza asked.
"...What will our fathers think of our behavior? They will be ashamed."
Erza smiled. "That is true, they will be ashamed."
The girl's face dropped visibly.
"But, they will die sooner or later, content with their lives." Erza continued. "But us? We will die with our dreams unfulfilled!"
She paused.
"We don't have to change our lives because of others." Erza said softly. "We are humans too. We are a part of god's creation too."
"What if you don't have a dream?" A middle-aged woman called out.
"Everyone has a dream!" Erza raised her voice again. "It's just that women are told to not have dreams. They are taught that they are the lower humans. That men are the only ones capable of dreaming. Years later, we forget about them and move on with our lives."
"I'm here to ensure you don't do that. To ensure that you live your life to the fullest and die without regrets. I'm here so that women can get equal rights as men."
And the women cheered.
"That's another thirty." A white haired bartender said. "Good job!"
"Thanks, Mira," Erza said.
"Where are we headed next?" A woman with brown hair named Milliana asked.
Erza thought for a moment. Then she smiled
"Let's head towards Crocus," she glanced at Mira. "Natsu is there."
(A/N They are currently in Magnolia.)
"That's the fifth one that we hung up." Rogue looked up from the scroll he was holding, gazing firmly at the king. "Today."
"Tch. They're such annoying little pests." The king - Acnologia - muttered.
"Perhaps, if you would-"
"I believe it is my job to give the king advises, not yours." A firm voice belonging to a blue haired man interrupted Rogue.
Rogue rolled his eyes.
"What do you suggest, advisor?" Acnologia turned to look at the royal advisor, swishing his cape in the process."What do you suggest we do to get rid of these pesky flies."
"Fairies." Rogue corrected. "They call themselves fairies."
"What they are called is none of my concern." Acnologia declared glancing at his treasurer. "What they do, however, is my concern and I believe it should be stopped."
The 'fairies' are actually rebels. Rebelling against the current king. They spread their ideals amongst the population, infecting them with their ideas - like a virus.
According to Acnologia, anyway.
They had an insignia - which showed a fairy with a tail. Acnologia found this absurd. Fairies or not, they must be kept within a borderline. That meant they shouldn't disobey the king. In this case - him.
"I do have a suggestion." The royal advisor's voice was smooth as marble.
Acnologia raised an eyebrow.
"The fairies follow a leader. I believe his name is Natsu. Natsu Dragneel." The royal advisor's eyes darkened dangerously. "Perhaps if you capture him, all of this would end."
"Where do you find this information?" Rogue asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I have my sources." The advisor answered vaguely.
Acnologia grinned menacingly.
"That is a lovely idea, Jellal."
"Time to wake up, Plue!" A blonde woman called out, stoking a chameleon, presumably named Plue.
The chameleon didn't stir.
"Plue!~~" She whined.
Finally, the chameleon opened one eye. Then the other, before rolling them both.
"Don't roll your eyes at me, young man!" She scolded before picking him up. "Let's have breakfast shall we?"
She skipped to the small kitchen, her long blonde hair flowing behind. Her hair was long and silky. By long, I mean really long. It took at least an hour to brush it and was a pain to wash. Her father Acnologia had insisted that her hair looked beautiful when it was long.
Yes, this woman is Lucy. The lost princess of Fiore.
"Blueberry?" Lucy asked the chameleon.
It shook its head.
"It's really good..."
It shook its head harder.
"Whatever." Lucy shook her head and ate her breakfast, which consisted of pancakes, maple syrup, and blueberries. After a long moment of silence, she started up a conversation again.
"Papa's coming to meet today." She said excitedly. "I wonder if he'll let me out since I'm turning eighteen in three days."
Being locked in a tower isn't fun. Sure, he father always brought her new book and paint brushes, but she longed to see the view outside her small window. She longed to feel the grass underneath her feet. To explore the world. To see her brother Gray.
It was true. She missed Gray the most out of everyone she knew. Yes, she missed all her maids and butlers, but she missed Gray very much. Her father had bought her a magical lacrima last year and she could see him through it occasionally. But it wasn't the same as seeing him in person.
The only other person apart from her father that would visit her is Rogue. Rogue Cheney, the royal treasurer. He controlled the taxes and the way money is spent inside the castle and in the towns. Well, her father had a say in the matter but it was his word that would finalize it.
After breakfast, Lucy walked towards the lacrima. There was a message stuck on it.
'Sorry dear, due to urgent matters, I cannot come today or this week. I promise I'll pay a visit next week!'
Lucy sighed. Her father only met up with her once in two weeks. And sometimes, he would cancel like he did today. It was frustrating. Frustrating and lonely.
She walked over to the window, unbolted it, and leaned out.
"Oh, Plue." She sighed. "It's so lonely without having someone to talk to." She stared up at the blue sky and white, fluffy clouds.
"I wonder... When will my life begin...?"