Don't Presume Too Much
Pina and her knights were taken directly to the parlor where the others were staying, many of them surprised to see the defeated looks on all of their faces. Itami had no idea what had happened to them after they left, but he could tell that it really did a number on all of the girls as none of them even tried to look them in the eye. Sugawara had taken notice of how Pina stole a glance at Gray for a brief moment while the ice mage was distracted and what he had first thought was betrayal had actually been a troubling realization. Something has changed the young princess' perspective inside that hall and the Japanese delegate was starting to piece a picture as to what the young queen could have in mind for them.
As the last of the Rose Order filed into the room, the maids stood at attention with a pair holding the double doors open. Two maids from the group walked forward to present the doorway as they looked towards their Japanese guests.
"The Queen requests for your return to the chamber, she wishes for prior deliberations to continue now that her meeting with Princess Pina Co Lada has concluded." One maid said as the Japanese liaisons stood up and made their way towards the door, their retainers not far behind them.
"This is a matter solely for the Japanese, please remain within the room until you are allowed to leave." The maid beside the previous one spoke up as Lelei and Tuka were about to make their way after Itami as he left the room.
"We'll be here when you are finished, Father!" Tuka called out as Itami waved goodbye to her, the team of maids bowing to the group before closing the parlor doors.
"It would seem that the young queen has shown you more than you could ever bargain for, child," Rory said as she began to examine the troubled look on Pina's face, the redhead trying her hardest to hide her face away from the Reaper.
"Rory is correct, you seem both troubled and horrified. What occurred in the chamber after they sent us away?" Lelei said as the Rose Order turned to look at Pina who didn't dare face the wizard girl and turned her focus towards Gray.
"She was far more aware of our soldiers than I ever was. I'd also add that Gray didn't prepare us enough for a confrontation with her." Pina said as the ice mage's eye once again glowed blue for a brief moment before dimming away and a look of sympathy came about.
"Queen Hisui is a formidable woman and she's well attuned to what the situation calls for," Gray said as Pina's emotions were all over the place, more so after seeing the queen.
"Formidable indeed, she left us no other choice..." Hamilton said as she couldn't shake the sight of her princess prostrating for the sake of the Empire.
"Well, Princess Pina, now at the end of your meeting do you understand?" Rory asked as the redhead finally looked at her with a puzzled face. "I've seen rulers come and go; she'll pass on the throne in time but she's the first one I've seen that should be respected."
"You were aware of what she had in store for me?" Pina asked as Rory's smile grew just a bit wider as she lounged onto an available couch.
"It was foreseeable if you had the right mindset, so it wasn't difficult to discover her intentions of making you see the Empire from the perspective of those who suffered. Much like the demi-humans residing in your lands."
"I can tell you this much, with the way things went down before the decision to cross the Gate, you're fortunate that Queen Hisui wanted peace," Gray said and it only served to give Pina cold comfort at the fact that the young queen was willing to show mercy since day one of this one-sided conflict.
"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to be left to my thoughts," Pina said to everyone in the room as she chose to go outside onto the balcony.
"Best to leave her be," Rory said to Bozes as the ringlet blonde was about to stand up and go after her, watching the redhead go and retaking her seat on the couch.
The JSDF continued to follow after the maids until they were brought back to the chamber, this time noticing that it was relatively empty. All of the Queen's senate had left with the only people inside being Ambassador Myu, Dimaria, Arcadios, and the Queen herself. As the doors closed behind the Japanese, they once again formally bowed before the young queen and awaited her next words as another team of maids began setting a table in the center of the room. Itami had been impressed at not only their speed but also their group's total strength to move such heavy-duty furniture without skipping a beat. He turned to face the Queen again and noticed her outstretching her hand towards the table, a sign for them to take a seat although his squad was unsure if they should sit.
Sugawara and Shirayuri complied, taking their seats as the Queen gave a short nod in understanding when the JSDF troops were hesitant in sitting down. The liaisons weren't too keen on the fact that they refused the Queen's offer but decided not to press the issue further as Queen Hisui sat up straighter in her throne.
"Do forgive sending you away so early in our conversations, but there was a matter that needed to be delved into with Princess Pina." Queen Hisui said as Itami eyed the room for those White Tigers, even if it was a fruitless endeavor. "With it settled, I wish to continue with the purpose of your visit."
"Queen Hisui, allow me to reiterate how grateful both us and the Ministry are with the agreement of the non-aggression pact between our nations. We hope to establish great ties into the future and hope to prosper as well." Sugawara said as the Queen kept her friendly smile, though he grew cautious at the look Ambassador Myu was giving him.
"The most obvious road is at times the least one taken, that is why we had been pleasantly surprised when Lieutenant Itami offered a hand in friendship. It's thanks to him and his willingness to fight alongside my forces on two occasions that such an agreement was easily accepted." Hisui replied and the Japanese officer grew a little self-conscience at the acknowledgment the young queen was giving him.
"The sentiment has been shared with others who have viewed the Lieutenant's actions favorably," Shirayuri said as the green-haired woman turned to look at her this time and the diplomat felt as if she needed to keep her guard around her.
"I'm still curious about the purpose the JSDF have in the Special Region since I've yet to hear about any actual exploration mission." Brandish interjected as she had gone over many reports from the recon teams made up of Special Forces and none had reported of the inhabitants making contact with any JSDF team before them.
"With what limited knowledge we have about the region as a whole and the resources at our disposal, such advance operations have been limited to the areas around Alnus Hill," Sugawara replied as that was a much harder-hitting question than what he had been expecting from the Alvarez ambassador.
"That's understandable Mr. Sugawara, but wouldn't a reconnaissance mission be far more cost-effective than an entire attack division of helicopters?" Hisui asked as the calculated costs of using such means with inefficient fuel outweighed that of meaningful usage. "With resources being what they supposedly are for you, such shows of force must be worth every ounce of materials used."
"The analysis for cost-effectiveness has been brought to the attention of our superiors, but it should be noted that the usage of such force was necessary in the case of Italica where both our forces fought an absurd army of marauders," Sugawara said as the reports contained hundreds close to a thousand hostile forces attacking the trade hub. "Such an enemy force would've completely overtaken the defenders had they not stepped in."
"In any other scenario they would've, but when you factor in the Special Forces comprised of nothing but Fairy Tail mages, then the odds were stacked against the idiots attacking the city." Brandish spoke up as she took in the disbelief on the JSDF soldiers' faces and the diplomats as well.
"Begging your pardon, Ambassador Myu, but four people added to the mix of 3rd Recon's platoon isn't going to sway the odds by such a great margin," Shirayuri spoke up as that was putting too much stock in just two young women, a young man, and a teenage girl.
"From your point of view, that does seem rather absurd to have the advantage with only four people, but the Ambassador is far from wrong," Hisui said as all eyes turned to her and Kuribayashi couldn't wait to hear what that meant. "Three of those members had comprised a previous team of four who defended a city slightly larger than that of Italica against an army of cultists."
"I can assume that those cultists had magic users within their ranks, so I'll simply ask the total number that attacked that city." Shirayuri couldn't begin to believe that three of the four had already done something as defending a city from invasion before Italica.
"They totaled two thousand in all, including all high-ranking cult leaders," Arcadios answered this time as the Queen turned to face him since he knew about the event as the capital had to house several prisoners that the Magic Council didn't have space for. "With no casualties lost within the city."
The Japanese had been stunned that only four people stood between a city and thousands of cultists, holding the line until they emerged victoriously. Itami couldn't believe that he was riding along with such people, now coming to realize that Erza and her group really didn't have much to worry about if they had done something like that before. Kuribayashi on the other hand wanted to know who exactly stood up to all that and win, a part of her having a seriously hard time believing any of the weirdos she's traveled with being such seasoned warriors.
"If I can speak freely, who were those four that stood in the city's defense?" Kuribayashi couldn't contain herself any longer since she had to know, much to Itami's chagrin as that was exactly what he complained to Tomita of having to watch out for.
"The four in question were Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel." Arcadios began and everyone in the room wasn't shocked that either of them was there. "Lucy Heartfilia and Gray Fullbuster."
With the last two named off, the JSDF wasn't entirely surprised with the group as they all had the first-hand experience with their capabilities, except for Lucy who was vouched for by Kurokawa when they defended the south gate together. Still, the truth of the matter was that they did spend resources calling for backup when all they had to do was hold out and allow Erza and Natsu to finish the job in some of their opinions. Though that idea wasn't what was coming to mind for Sugawara and Shirayuri as they had been effectively told that the JSDF spent fuel and ammunition for a situation the FEF could've finished on their own.
"Please don't worry yourselves about the matter, the safety of everyone involved has become a concern to us and we wish to settle all matters with the Special Region as quickly as possible now that Princess Pina has given her support in earnest," Hisui said as she began to see that the Japanese delegates were being overwhelmed by Brandish.
"No need to worry, Your Highness, your forces have shown us that you truly are inclined to follow through with your mission to save your people," Sugawara replied as everything he's heard so far and shown all point to the main goal of saving the lives of their fellow countrymen.
"A goal not too hard to see on every Fiorean soldier's face, but what is keeping you there?" Brandish questioned as there's been a sneaking suspicion growing at the back of her mind thanks to the fact that the Heads wanted her to act on a hypothesis they somehow developed concerning the Special Region. "Has Japan suffered similar atrocities as Fiore?'
"Though we were attacked and continue to find recompense for this transgression, our forces are in the Special Region as the forefront of exploration to a world so very different than our own," Shirayuri replied as she had begun to study Ambassador Myu and grew concerned with her demeanor towards them. "Though it emerged from tragedy, there are those who are grateful of gaining an opportunity to view life in a completely different era."
"Aside from those very few who feel grateful for a whole new world at their disposal, I suggest having an open mind at the idea that there may be Japanese citizens being held prisoner in the Special Region." Brandish spoke in a disinterested manner, but she was testing to see if either delegate would react in the fashion she was searching for.
"With how the FEF has carried itself in its concerns for the citizens, then perhaps notifying the Ministry about such dire crimes should be presented. The actions of the Empire's forces' invasion matched ours almost entirely, perhaps it isn't so farfetched that something similar has also occurred." Sugawara replied and though he seemed to react mainly to the idea that Japanese are being made into slaves, Shirayuri gave Brandish what she was looking for.
"The Special Region is a world untouched by either of our worlds' progress, so we should use it to our advantage and work together," Hisui spoke up this time as she gave a passing look to Brandish before settling on the two Japanese liaisons again. "If you discover that such a terrible crime has been committed, let us know so that my forces can assist you in searching for information concerning their whereabouts."
"If such an incident has occurred, we'd be grateful for any assistance you can provide us," Sugawara said as he stood up and bowed to the queen while Brandish kept an eye on Shirayuri who was starting to look a little more troubled now.
"It seems only fair if we can ask this question of you, Queen Hisui. Is the search for your missing citizens your only reason for remaining in the Special Region and your departure once they've been rescued?" Shirayuri questioned and grew curious as the young queen gave a short sigh before looking down onto her lap.
"I wish to keep the matter as simple as possible to bring my forces back home, but I'm afraid it can't end there," Hisui replied and Shirayuri felt a surge of success now that she got the queen to start talking about what could be possibly happening behind the scenes. "The Empire has found itself in this strange position of being, in a sense, my responsibility."
"How so?" Sugawara asked as it seemed rather odd for a monarch to feel such a way unless said monarch planned to expand towards greater land.
"Are you aware of the name of the language we're speaking in?" Hisui asked as both Japanese delegates shook their head and turned to see if Itami had an answer for them.
"It's been primarily referred to as Common, Your Highness, with minor dialect differences that depend on the location within the Empire," Itami replied as Tomita gave him a reassuring smile and Kurokawa sent a subtle thumbs up to his way.
"You are well informed, Lieutenant, but we also have a variation of Common that is spoken all across Earth Land. The difference is that it sounds nothing like the language in the Special Region." Hisui responded as the JSDF gave one another confused looks, mostly from the fact that the name of their planet was called Earth Land. "What we are all speaking is a dead language spoken only within Fiore from centuries past, well before the adoption of Common all across our world."
"Basically, that Common language spoken in the Special Region is actually Old Fiorean." Brandish simplified and the surprise was prevalent across the faces of the Japanese as this meant a great many things concerning the history of humans in the Special Region, maybe even their magic as well.
"Then this sense of responsibility stems from the fact that the people of the Empire are possible descendants of ancestors who were native to Fiore." Sugawara theorized as he could only imagine how heavy it must feel to know that in a twisted way, the Queen had been fighting her own people all this time.
"Yes, and before we vacate the Special Region, I wish to help them rebrand a terrible reputation and amend the sins they've committed. Princess Pina has shown me that there is a willingness to stand against all odds for the better."
"A noble goal, Your Highness, though you must have already factored in the various challenges that lay before you, correct?" Shirayuri asked as she felt this foreboding sense in her bones ever since she came to realize that Ambassador Myu had full rein in entering the conversation without the Queen's permission.
"This endeavor will test our resolve, but the true challenges will not be faced by my kingdom." Hisui said, noticing how the two delegates looked at each other in confusion. "Princess Pina will helm this goal herself as she receives our support, to a degree."
"That's a rather interesting move, wouldn't it be easier to have the FEF undertake a role to accelerate this process than having to use Princess Pina to change the views of her countrymen?" Sugawara asked as this had much more implications to future opportunities if the Princess was being made to follow the banner of Fiore.
"To have Pina make these changes you wish to implement could be seen as treason by those who'd undermine any attempt at peace with your nation. It puts her in a dangerous situation that I fear could lead to many troubling decisions that have to be made in the future." Shirayuri found it difficult to accept the Queen's current course of action as it would leave too many security threats for the JSDF in the long run.
"The path to a better future is never the easiest, having those who'd undermine your power is only natural," Hisui spoke from experience and she did not doubt that Pina would face her own share of trials from those that believed that the redhead didn't have what it takes to accomplish anything. "As far as her safety is concerned, we both will do our best to protect her life. She's the greatest ally either of our nations has made in this new world, correct?"
Sugawara only nodded his head as it was clear as day that Pina is a high valued individual who they've speculated to be the linchpin to many of their operations in the Special Region. The Japanese delegate only wished that the dangers they were pushing her way could be mitigated if her involvement wouldn't be overtly seen. It's one thing to protect her from outside of the imperial capital, it was another when the dangers could very well reside by those closest to the crown with their own agendas.
"If I were you, I'd devote more attention to setting a clearer goal than trying to focus the movements of your soldiers straight to the wolves." Brandish said as the JSDF squad turned to look at her with equal faces of skeptical confusion. "Don't tell me that you haven't seen it yourselves?"
The question was posed to them, but none dared to answer since it wasn't their place to speak about the entirety of their unit, even if they themselves spoke out of turn earlier in the conversation. Tomita. Kurata and Kuribayashi glanced at each other in uncertainty since most combat they've faced was happenstance since Italica was under siege before their arrival and little engagements across the roads were always dealt with easily. Kurokawa had her personal thoughts on the idea that they've been going to places that the Empire has visibly passed through, but it seemed only coincidence to her as it still does. As for Itami, he really didn't have a stake in the idea as it was all just work for him and would rather be back in Japan awaiting the next con.
"Since I won't get an answer, I'll leave you with this; what purpose are you truly fulfilling if you're always going to the next battle?" Brandish said as the soldiers seemed keen on keeping to themselves than answering her.
"I don't wish to make any assumptions, Ambassador Myu, but what are you implying?" Shirayuri said as she was starting to believe her thoughts that this woman was far more trouble than what Hazama had told them from his previous dealings with her. "These men and women risk their lives on the behalf of Japan, the Special Region is not a forgiving world if they aren't careful."
"For starters, assumptions are too much work to tiptoe around so it's best to say what's on your mind, and for what I am implying is that your soldiers seemed to have no purpose roaming about the Special Region." Brandish said and Shirayuri grew concerned that the green-haired woman was tasked to convince them to leave the Special Region to them. "For soldiers who are tasked to find "recompense and explore a brand new world," have they done either of those tasks?"
Sugawara was about to counter her claim but as he thought more about her words, did he come to realize that they've yet to learn much aside from the untapped resources available in the Special Region. Culturally, the Empire is derived of a Romanesque society blended with Western lordship from what they've gathered so far. Half-species exist within the Empire, though it's been said from villages that they primarily reside in forested areas and on the fringes of imperial territory. The Japanese man was befuddled that he read more about what resources have been discovered in greater detail than anything concerning the political structure of the lordships, the senate, and of the crown.
"I'll need to stop you there, Ambassador Myu, before this meeting continues to follow a tangent no one had expected," Hisui spoke this time as Shirayuri was about to make a retort and Sugawara was grateful that the young queen would give them a chance to breathe.
"If that's what you want." Brandish replied casually as she lounged back into her seat without another word.
The JSDF watched the exchange go down and a few of them truly wondered where it could have gone if they'd been allowed to continue, but it did have them thinking about the ambassador's words. One thing they collectively thought was how easily Queen Hisui reined in Ambassador Myu, who mainly controlled the conversation with how even she spoke while the delegates had brief pauses before their replies. Of all the soldiers present, Kuribayashi was the one who felt like there was far more being left unsaid by both sides due to this last conversation and it didn't sit right with her.
"Although the conversation seemed to have gone down a rough road, I believe that this union between our nations holds strong. Knowing our differences can only help strengthen our understanding of each other." Hisui added as the tension between her ambassador and those of Japan seemed to simmer down, though the Japanese woman still seemed wary of Brandish.
"If there is more to discuss then feel free to bring it up now." Brandish said, knowing that the only person who was truly excited to speak with those who had to deal with anything in the Special Region was Hisui herself.
"I'm afraid with how early this first meeting had taken place, most questions we could ask of you would probably revolve our current stances in dealing with problems caused by the Empire," Sugawara said as they had plenty of material prepared to ask and convince those of the Imperial Senate towards a path of peace.
"If you require time then, by all means, we can end this conference here and have another scheduled at a later date." Hisui offered as it was rather impulsive of her to see the delegates so soon in their viewpoint, but it was quite different for her thanks to the time difference.
"That would be much appreciated, Queen Hisui," Sugawara said as he and Shirayuri stood up and bowed their heads to the young queen.
"Very well, we shall conclude our deliberations here and reconvene in due time," Hisui said as she snapped a finger and the previous team of maids entered the room. "For now, you shall stay as my guests and enjoy what Fiore has to offer."
At her words, the group of Japanese bowed their heads in unison in thanks as they filed out of the chamber, following the maids to where ever they were being taken. Sugawara falling a step behind as he began to lose himself in thought after everything that had happened in that room. Itami had decided to walk alongside him as the rest of his squad were busy listening to Shirayuri explaining to them that they needed to be mindful next time in the presence of either the Queen or Ambassador Myu. They weren't completely out of the loop to understand that they had been too nonchalant in front of the Queen but were otherwise grateful that she didn't seem to mind at the time.
"Is something bothering you, Mr. Sugawara?" Itami asked as the Japanese liaison grew more pensive as they walked down the hall.
"Well Lieutenant, I'm more or less troubled with our ally's personal ideas on using Pina for this goal of a "better" Empire she wants to be created." It does everyone good to be wary of those you've just met, more so in the Japanese man's opinion given what power the Queen is in control of.
"You think Queen Hisui's got some sinister plot in mind?" Itami asked skeptically since most of his experience with anyone from this world was on the genuine side, just like the way the Queen acted in the chamber.
"Heh, I wouldn't say "sinister" so much as concerning." Sugawara clarified as he tried to correctly piece his next words clearly. "I have this theory that she wants to progress the Empire in the image of her kingdom, using the princess as some sort of stand-in to push her agenda."
"That does sound concerning, but do you think it holds any actual weight?" Itami had to admit it was a sound plan and a part of him thought he read a manga with a similar plotline a couple of years ago.
"It's only a theory, but after the way Pina and her Rose Order looked when they returned has given it some heft. If only in the sense that they had been subjected to scare tactics at the very least." Sugawara had seen how defeated they all looked, but the one worst for ware was Pina who didn't hold herself in the same prideful manner she usually did.
"Maybe I can put in some words with Gray to talk with Pina and see what's gotten into her, she seems to feel comfortable around him." Aside from himself, Itami has noticed the princess be a bit more open with the ice mage, and a part of him was glad someone closer to her age was around to help.
"If it were any other case, then I would agree with that plan although this is not one of those times." Sugawara knew that there was going to be a bias from those on the side of Fiore and it wouldn't do them good to have one of their own speak to Pina in her current state. "This is a matter that you and your squad will need to handle personally, Gray could risk how truthful Pina is with her answers."
"If that's what you want, Mr. Sugawara," Itami replied as he really didn't want more responsibilities to pile up on him alongside his regular duties.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. There's plenty to be mindful of here and Mrs. Shirayuri shares the sentiment after everything Ambassador Myu had said." Sugawara may not have been working with the woman for long, but it was obvious to him that any previous notions she had were undermined with the green-haired woman's attitude and words.
Huffing in anger, Natsu stormed through the hallways of the castle alone since he had decided to leave Laxus' side. The pink-haired slayer just couldn't wrap his head around the idea that everyone was starting to accept Pina into the fold so easily, Laxus being the latest one to do so after the redhead kneeled before Hisui. The blonde made his point to show that there was come decency within in the Empire after her display, but it was practically worthless in Natsu's opinion.
Caught within his thoughts, he came to realize that he wasn't alone in the current hallway as Pina was just ahead of him with a maid escort not far behind her. He noticed the princess deep in thought as she looked out a window, not even bothering to look his way as he approached. Natsu could care less what was going through her mind, but he knew this was the best opportunity he could get to really talk to her without anyone getting in his way. Every chance he had prior was met with someone trying to rein him in for some damn reason, well not this time.
Although Pina heard the approaching footsteps, she believed it is some other servant of the castle so she didn't let them distract her own musings. She truly wondered if anything she did from this point forward would matter as every obstacle that will come her way had to be dealt with on her own. One's pride meant everything in the Empire, but after everything that she just saw and what she feared could happen, what use would it be if it only served to get them killed at this point. All roads would lead to doom unless she paved a new one herself and it was better to attempt the impossible now than accept the alternative. The worries were there and her fear may as well be visible, but those thoughts were swept aside as she had been forcibly spun to face a very angered face.
"Well look at who I found out here," Natsu said as Pina's eyes widen at the sight of the pink-haired young man, unsure of what she should do.
"Th-That would be the princess of your enemy..." Pina replied nervously as she had no one at her side and she doubted a maid could be of use if she needed help.
"Your damn right, so tell me what are you trying to pull here?" The dragon slayer questioned harshly as he noticed the princess visibly flinch.
"I guess it would be stupid of me to question what you mean by that so the truth of the matter is that I'm trying to stop the destruction of the Empire," Pina admitted as his glare did not waver and she knew that he was attempting to hunt down any lie she didn't dare tell.
"Stop it? Like Hell if you think that your damned Empire doesn't deserve it!" Natsu retorted as Pina took a half-step back in surprise by his anger. "I've got half a mind to burn it all down myself!"
"I would think you a mindless beast just like your kin for saying that, but I've learned that your anger is justified." Those images would haunt Pina for quite some time and she couldn't bring herself to think about herself in those people's position.
"I'm human damn it, not some dragon! Get it straight and that overgrown lizard is nothing compared to what a real dragon is supposed to be!" Natsu couldn't believe how naïve Pina was to believe Gray's bullshit story that made him and Wendy out to be dragons in human form.
"B-But isn't that what you are?" Pina was unsure what Natsu was trying to accomplish by saying that, but after what she's heard him do it was difficult to think of him as a mere human.
"No, I'm not! Whatever you've heard is nothing more but a fucking fairy tale!" Were people of the Special Region that desperate for someone to become a hero that they took Gray's story for truth?
"The villages we came across all said that..."
"That what? That Gray's some sort of fallen prince!? Lucy's a celestial princess!? Or that Erza's a War Maiden!?" The pink-haired slayer filled in all the blanks as Pina dropped her gaze to the floor and Natsu knew he hit the nail on the head. "I'm not sorry to break it to you, but none of that's true."
"So that means..."
"You guessed it; you've been wasting your time sucking up to Gray! The bastard's no prince, Erza isn't a War Maiden and I'm not a dragon turned human!" Natsu quickly answered as the same look of defeat he saw on her face in the chamber showed itself once again. "But I'll give you one, at this point I guess Lucy can be considered a celestial princess."
"All that time spent, all of it wasted on nothing..." Pina said and the dragon slayer picked up a hollowness in her tone as she continued to stare at the floor.
"That makes two of us, but I had it worse. I had to spend sleepless nights and nightmares about all those broken faces of the innocent who suffered at your soldiers' hands without being able to do anything about it." Natsu said as he had noticed that the maid had disappeared, unsure of where she went as he then heard Pina mumble something. "What did you say?"
"I'm sorry..." Pina repeated lowly as she could see Natsu's shadow lean in closer, trying her best to not let the prickle at the corner of her eyes get to her. "I said that I'm sorry!"
"What good are words at this point? I'm glad Hisui didn't sugarcoat anything and made sure you witnessed the evil things your people did." The moment that Pina witnessed all the suffering captured in a still image was what Natsu wanted the rest of the assholes in charge of the Empire to see. "Why bother giving Hisui your pride when you don't have any honor, to begin with?"
"All I ever tried to do was to earn respect and bring honor to my father! To show him that I am his daughter!" Pina cried out as she forced herself to look at the young man square in the eye, even if her tears got the better of her. "I trained to become a knight to prove myself and was made into an ornament in the end! I'd have wasted everything I've spent my life on if I couldn't get your Queen to show mercy!"
"Don't you dare talk about showing mercy!" Natsu roared as his anger exploded once again, that damned word rearing its ugly head into another conversation. "None of you assholes deserve mercy! Why should we show you that benefit when so many children were made orphans, when couples were made into widows, or how so many girls had their spirits shattered!?"
"Because I rather save and change the Empire I grew up in than have my people enslaved to chaos once the Empire falls!" Pina retorted as she grabbed onto Natsu's coat, forcing him to see how genuine she was if nothing else. "I can't change what the soldiers had done but even in the face of your Queen's superior power, I want to prove that I'll do anything for the sake of my people."
Natsu had been taken aback by Pina's actions, now realizing that these were not the tears of someone afraid, but of someone who's reached their limit. With how close Pina was now, the dragon slayer could see the genuine emotion the redhead was expressing and now Laxus' words began to be a bit clearer to him. She was speaking her truth and every word held a weight of an outreaching hope, but Natsu held firm to his previous statement of what do words accomplish after all that's been set and done? The dragon slayer had something in mind for a reply, but that strange sense of wavering washed over him as he took in the sight of Pina once again and those words quickly died in his mouth. Natsu could feel that he was at an impasse with himself as he still held a burning inferno against the atrocities that were committed, but it has struggled to maintain itself ever since the chamber incident.
Her words could light the spark of his rage like they already have, but now it was as if her frustrated tears were dousing those flames. Something wasn't right, some part of him felt that even though she was a member of his enemies, she too was just caught in the crossfire. That alone betrayed the mission he set out for himself. The royal crown had to pay for their crimes, Pina was part of that family, but now he wasn't sure where she belonged and before he could think about his next move, a hand placed itself onto his shoulder.
"What's going on here, Natsu?" Laxus said as he found the princess gripping onto the pink head with tears in her eyes. "A celestial maid came to find me saying that you two were getting into a heated argument."
"We did, but turns out that Pina just needed to vent, she's been under a lot of stress because of everything," Natsu answered him as their current situation could be taken in various ways and believed Laxus would know what was really going on. "I've got no idea what to do now."
"Then how about we let the celestial maid help Princess Pina," Laxus said as the redhead released Natsu to take in the massive form of the blonde man as her maid escort came to her side.
"I shall attend to the Princess and return her to the parlor." The maid said to the pair as Pina wiped away her remaining tears and settled herself.
"Please forgive this unsightly appearance, I'm far more composed than this," Pina said, even though she couldn't really come about that after the day she's gone through. "I bid you farewell."
The dragon slayers watched as Pina walked away with the maid and Laxus wasn't going to fully questioned what had occurred between the two. The blonde knew that they were bound to talk to one another at some point, he was just curious why Natsu seemed so lost in thought compared to how he initially thought he'd be.
"Come on, Hot Head, let's take a walk," Laxus said with no room to argue as the pink head simply nodded and fell into step with him. "What's keeping you so quiet?"
"Does it matter? You'll just tell me to get over it." Natsu replied as that's as much advice as Laxus has given him in the past.
"You're not wrong, but it doesn't hurt to say it out loud." To be fair, the blonde wasn't good at advising in general so Laxus wouldn't fault Natsu for saying that.
"I don't get Pina," Natsu said after a few moments of silence, mainly because he was trying to really put his muddled thoughts into words.
"You don't understand women in general, so what's new?" Laxus answered promptly as the pink-haired slayer rolled his eyes and gave him a tired sigh after his response.
"Not like that, you walking lightning rod. I meant that she acts like, she acts like..."
"Someone who'd fit right in at Fairy Tail?" Laxus offered and wasn't surprised by the questioning look that Natsu was giving him.
"I wouldn't say she does, but she's someone we've dealt with who's changed, you know?" At best, he thought about Cobra and his change to fight for what's right after being a villain.
"In whatever way you want it to mean, I say it's because she's somehow proven to you that there is something that means more to her than selfish ideals," Laxus said as Natsu grew quiet once again in deep thought after his reply. "Would an asshole really think about others over themselves?"
"No, they wouldn't. She asked for mercy for the innocent without a second guess and nothing else." Natsu answered as the only people who asked for mercy on Pina was her Rose Order, all for her sake.
"There you have it, now you know what Pina's about." With the way that Natsu was reacting now, he was starting to really wonder what happened between the two if the fire dragon slayer was this conflicted. "She genuinely cares about those of her Empire and maybe that resolve has been reinforced with her meeting with Queen Hisui."
"Probably..." Natsu simply said as he put his hands into his pockets, Laxus passing a glance over towards him in suspicion.
"There's still more bothering you." It was so obvious that something else was pestering the dragon slayer, but this felt like the cheerleader's domain more than his.
"Hmph, there is but I know you wouldn't care to hear about it," Natsu replied as he looked at Laxus who merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Probably." It was as non-committal as Laxus could sound, but Natsu was aware that this was his way of saying that he couldn't really help him.
"Yeah whatever, I just want to get home to the guild," Natsu admitted as he would much rather have the senior Dreyar to talk to than his peer, believing Gramps would know just what to say to help him.
"You and me both."