Gray was out.

He was actually out!

He smiled, content, and inhaled the sweet scent through his nose. The smell of baking bread and melting chocolates. The smell of lavenders and lilies. The smell of happiness.

'But how?' Gray wondered. 'How were they still this happy when the king and the crown prince were such ruthless men?'

"It's because of the rebels." Jellal answered.

"What? Did you just read my mind?"

"You were talking out loud, Gray."

"Oh."

Jellal smiled. "The rebels give these people hope. Hope that someday, they will be free from the terrible king's clutches."

Gray looked down. "It's not just the king."

"Not to the people, that's for sure." Jellal agreed. "But when he brings back the lost princess, people will shower him with love."

"How are you so sure?"

"That's how people work. Once someone does something good," Jellal looked at Gray, "they forget every bad thing that someone has done."

"That's... stupid." Gray replied.

"It is."

A small pause.

"Now, wait here Gray, I'm going to go meet someone who can give us all we need for our travel."

"Alright."

With that, Jellal left.

'Oh no.' Lucy panicked. 'Oh no, no, no."

She had hit someone. Hit someone. She's never harmed an ant in her life and now... She couldn't believe it.

But, what were you supposed to do when some random guy just climbed through your window? Her father always said to be wary of men. How had he found this place anyway?

She bent down over the unconscious figure. He had pink hair. Who the heck has pink hair?

'Is he dead?'

Lucy nudged his face with her encyclopedia. Nothing. She nudged him more. No reaction. Desperate, she put her ear on his chest to hear his heartbeat - if he had one. He did. Thank goodness!

She dragged him over - oh, how heavy he was! - to the wardrobe. She would dump him there. Dump him there until either Rogue or her father came to visit. They would know what to do.

'But, wait!' Lucy stood up straight, the body crashing into the floor. 'Father won't be here this week!'

Surely, he had to eat. And go to the toilet. And have a bath. What if he tried something? What if he stole all her books and art supplies? No, she couldn't risk it. Now, she wished she didn't break that lacrima.

Hang on. Gray... He was getting married. And he would get married if not for her interference. She definitely could not make the trip to the castle alone. But maybe, he could?

Slowly, Lucy formed a plan.

"ATTENTION! ATTENTION!"

Gray choked on the apple he was eating when he heard that loud voice. He turned to see a bellman, ringing the bell while calling for attention. Gray knew what the bell was for, it was for public announcements. Like when someone was getting hung or a crown prince escaped the castle.

Gray made sure the cloak covered his face.

"THE CROWN PRINCE HAS RUN AWAY!" The man yelled. "I REPEAT, THE CROWN PRINCE HAS RUN AWAY! THE KING HAS OFFERED 10,000 JEWELS TO WHOEVER FINDS AND RETURNS HIM! 10,000 JEWELS-"

Gray didn't hear the rest. His father was offering that much for him? Why? Oh, right. Because of the marriage deal. He was stupid to think his father actually cared.

"Oww..."

Gray turned his head to the right. On the ground, a girl had dropped all the fruits she was carrying. She had slipped on something and fell. Gray may be known as an 'Ice-Hearted Prince' but that was only inside the castle. Outside, he was as anyone else.

So he helped her.

"Th-Thank you, sir."

"It's alright." Gray sat back up. But, in doing so, his cloak fell off his head.

Everyone stared at him.

"THERE HE IS!" Someone yelled.

"CAPTURE HIM!" Another.

Gray ran. Ran as he had never before. He ran and ran, the populace hot on his trail. He ran through markets and garden plots. He ran through dark alleyways and thin alleyways. He ran and ran.

Until someone pulled him.

As soon as the person pulled him, they covered his mouth.

Gray heard the populace running in another direction, entirely. They were leaving him. This stranger had saved his life!

"Th-Thank you." Gray panted.

"It's alright." The voice was female.

"Uh, um-" Gray's words stumbled on each other.

'Oh, crap! Jellal!'

"I'm sorry, I need to go and find someone." Gray apologized to the woman as he stepped to the light.

"You're the prince?" The voice sounded incredulous.

"Uh, yeah... Don't get me captured, please. I need to find someone."

"You're more handsome than I thought you would be..." The voice muttered.

"I'm sorry?" Gray asked even though he heard quite clearly. In fact, his cheeks were quite flushed.

"I- Nevermind." She sighed and stepped into the sun. Gray gaped at her azure blue hair and captivating eyes. She was so beautiful.

"Since I saved you..." she smiled at him, "I need you to do me a favor."

Gray came back to the world in a snap. "What?"

"I need you to help me cross the forest."

Forest? Well, that was where he was headed. Surely, he could accompany her? He would do that.

"Alright, but I need to find someone who resides in the forest too. If that's okay with you then let's get going."

She touched her chin and thought for a bit.

"Alright." She said.

And Gray and the mysterious blue-haired lady left the town square.

Jellal, all but forgotten.

Jellal blinked.

Where was he?

Didn't Jellal leave Gray here?

'Maybe he ran when he heard the announcement.'

Jellal sighed. Great. Now, he had to roam around to find a lost prince and princess.

He didn't get much further as he bumped into a lady.

"Oh, my apologies." Jellal apologized.

The lady looked up, her red hair covering one of her eyes.

"Oh, no." She muttered.

"Pardon?-" Jellal didn't get to finish.

"IT'S THE FEMINIST!" A man yelled.

"CAPTURE HER AND GIVE HER TO THE KING!" Another yelled.

"SHE BRAINWASHES OUR WOMEN!"

Jellal looked back at the woman. So this was Erza. She is as pretty as they say she is. So this was who Levy loved so much.

He opened his mouth to say something but Erza ran, her cape floating behind her.

And, without thinking, Jellal ran after her too.

In a short amount of time, he was next to her.

"Are you... here to capture me too?" Erza asked, her voice strong, regardless of running.

"No. I'm Levy's brother."

"Oh." Erza smiled. "Nice to meet you, Jellal."

"You know me?" Jellal was genuinely surprised.

"She talks about you."

"I see."

A short pause.

"Let us go to the forest. They won't be able to follow us there." Jellal suggested. He needed to go to the forest anyway.

Erza thought for a moment. Natsu was in the forest too. So maybe, maybe she would go.

"Alright."

And, they both ran into the forest.