Wow! A longer one 0w0

Two raggedy children run up the hollering steps of their parents' childhood home and follow each other into the room they've known for a long time. The cousins steal a large, furry blanket from one of the rocking chairs and sit down on the beanbag chair. The two seven year-old girls crane their necks for the sound of their grandparent's footsteps, and soon the old couple stroll in, arms hooped together. One of the girls giggles when her red curls are stroked by the woman who once held such color in her hair. Her longtime spouse leads her to the rocking chair and carefully sets her down. He then sits on the left side of her, and places his fists on his knees while giving the new generation a good look.

"So, what would you like to hear tonight?"

The group of four and a flying cat were pitted up against a dark guild renowned for explosive magic. The mission was dangerous, but seemingly worth something with the amount of reward money. The guild had caused much suffering and casualties to the nearby towns. All four were determined to stop it.

"Are you ready? It won't be easy…"

"I'm all fired up after seeing the town. Those people will lose all their hope and spirit if they keep up. Let's do this."

Both girls were naturally outspoken, however the one born a few months before had a much more overbearing personality. She could easily take charge with those sharp, slanted dark eyes.

"Let's hear about the Knight and the Prince again. I like that one," she states with confidence in her decision. The younger one bounces her red curls with an affirmative nod.

"That one's my favorite!" She adds delightedly. The woman, with short, aging hair nods with a very pleased smile upon her wrinkled face. The man smiles at her, and then rubs his calloused hands together.

"Okay! The Knight and the Prince, let's begin…" He sets up the story.

"Natsu! I saw them over by that clearing!" The blue Exceed pointed towards a certain direction in the maze of the forest the team was lost in. Mentioned human thanked his childhood friend, and ordered his fellow teammates and friends to follow him to the location of their target.

"Wait, what if it's a trap?!" The blonde commented as she focused on her breathing. The two other team members looked to each other in agreement. It did seem likely, considering it was a clearing: the perfect spot to set up invisible mines and traps.

The so-called leader of the group insisted they continue. "Just be careful, and keep your eye out for mines." The others nodded. Still, the other male in the back hesitated. Fear in his heart continued to linger, and he knew a price would be paid as they fought today.

The woman ushers her grandchildren to calm themselves before her husband clears his throat and laces his fingers together. "Centuries ago, there existed a dazzling empire, greater than all others before it. This empire was divided into seven districts, containing many cities. All districts were ruled by a royal family, and this story centers around one prince in specific. The Prince had many admirers and followers, but he was cold to nearly everyone who attempted conversation with him. The only one he could truly speak to without a rude remark was his personal bodyguard, the Knight." He pauses there to look at the girls, who were currently making faces.

The one with red coils frowns and cocks her head. "I never understood why he wasn't nice to people." The older one looks down at her, and smiles.

"Maybe the Knight was the only one the Prince could trust the most." She wonders.

The four humans and the cat were split down the middle and each took one side of the field. Erza and Gray took one side, keeping out of sight in case the enemy was hiding as well.

"Erza," Gray breathed, "do you think we can do this and get out alive?"

Erza looked back at him from the corner of her eye, and smirked. "I've got your back, Gray." Somehow her words made him feel infinitely more secure.

The two cousins' grandfather coughs to clear his raspy throat. "Anyhow, this Knight was dedicated to protecting the Prince with his very life. He cared for the Prince very much, as they had known each other for a very long period of their lives. This Knight was not always proud and honorable. At the lowest point of his life, he met the Prince, and the Prince saved him."

The older one with the dark eyes sighed, her mind transfixed on imagining the Prince comforting the Knight. "I always like hearing about their relationship with each other." She admits. The elderly woman chuckles, and blushes at her husband.

"One day, one of the cities in the Prince's district rebelled against the royal family," he continues on, "the Prince was sent to lead the army with the Knight at his side. It was an extremely treacherous battlefield, and the Prince was very uneasy about the entire thing, despite the presence of his Knight. He would go to any lengths to prevent harm to his protector."

The two young girls grip each other's fists until their knuckles pale. That part was about to happen.

They were spotted.

With no use hiding out, all four mages began running to catch the members. Explosives were thrown in their direction, which made it nearly impossible to navigate, with both overhead projectiles and underground mines deterring them.

"Gray! Watch your step!" Erza warned. He looked back at her, and tried to reach out to grab her to safety.

"GRAY NO!!"

"So concerned about his faithful Knight, the Prince made a foolish mistake that would haunt his nightmares for as long as he could remember. He thought his lifelong partner and most trustworthy advisor was killed. For a long time, it did seem that way," the old man stops to run his fingers over the woman's smooth right palm, smiling sadly for a beat before turning back to his granddaughters to finish the tale.

The two girls are on the edge of their seats, gripping each other frightfully. Their emotions are evident on their faces.

"They were able to save the Knight, but he was severely injured. The Prince was saved from most of the attack thanks to the Knight, but he was still changed. For years, he could never forgive himself for bringing a horrid fate to his precious friend, yet the Knight insisted it was his duty to protect the Prince. Still, the Prince felt so useless to his protector. To make it up to him, the Prince helped the Knight recover." The storyteller takes another squeeze at his lover's hand.

The two girls are biting their lips trying not to rush their grandfather into finishing the story. He coughs into his sleeve just as he is about to continue.

"Sorry about that, girls. I'm almost done."

Blood.

It painted his eyes with a red lining.

Smoke.

It burned his lungs.

Noise.

His right ear was ringing too loudly. It wouldn't stop.

He couldn't move. His legs were most likely twisted or broken, and he could feel the burning gashes all across his arms and back. He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry.

But most of all, he wanted to find her.

"There isn't much more to it than that. Over time, the Prince and the Knight realized their love for each other and eventually married. They lost a lot, but they were able to recover what was most important in the end." The girls' sighs and awes fill the room. They both begin to squeal about finding their own spouse one day.

The woman turns from the swooning minors to look at her husband. She brushes his face with her thumb, and wipes away the stray tear that crawls across his indentations. "You're warm." She speaks. With that, Gray nearly breaks down as he takes another hand to the smooth metal that was once her arm.

Bonus:

"Gray, why was the Knight a boy?"

"Erza, don't be homophobic—ouch! Damn, you stepped on me again!"

"Not my fault you replaced my foot with metal. I am not homophobic! I'm Gajeel's son's godmother after all."

"Really? He's… I didn't know! I've never seen him on a date before."

"Poor boy isn't that lucky."