20 years later...
Invel Yura missed August.
August was the one who had raised the blue-head, ever since he was six years old. August was the only one who had loved him, the only one who ever protected him. But ever since the horrible day Acnologia conquered Fiore, both August and the princes were missing. Invel couldn't believe how much
Fiore used to be happy. It used to be envied by the other kingdoms. The streets were so colourful with many forms of art around every corner. The people were always happy and kind to each other. The streets were almost empty of beggars. But that was not the case now.
After Acnologia took control of Fiore, he imprisoned the lovely queen and killed the benevolent king. His terrifying soldiers ruled the cities while Acnologia ruled the economy. The soldiers roamed around the streets, seemingly human but something terrifying inside. The people of Fiore had given up all hope, including Invel himself, who was now forced to work for Acnologia in return for his life.
But little did he know that all hope was not lost.
To the North of Fiore, there is a giant forest. The forest is so big that no one has ever claimed to have roamed all of it. The paths twisted and turned, the trees deceived and the sun never shone, save for a few places. It was the perfect place to get lost.
Or to hide four princes. If you're August.
As soon as he was given the order to protect the four children, August knew he had to be careful. He had to disguise them all, make them forget their legacy but remember their goals. And there was only one place where he could truly hide them.
The Northern Forests.
August trained each one of them, day till evening, teaching them everything he knew about swordfight, politics, economics, justice, morality, and magic. He constantly reminded them of their mother who was imprisoned in her palace. He sparked revenge in their minds, using the cruel death of their father as fuel.
And the boys grew up, healthy, smart, and loved. They grew up with one goal in their mind. And the one goal always kept them united.
Jellal was the smartest in the group. He was to be king once Acnologia was beheaded. Jellal's magic was light magic, which allowed him to engulf his sword in a brilliant light, capable of cutting bonds that were not physical.
Gajeel's magic was quite the opposite. While his magic didn't create any apparent changes to his sword, it strengthened its core, allowing more attack force. His magic also allowed him to lift anything made of iron, and change it into a weapon in mere seconds. He was truly gifted.
Gray's magic allowed him to cover his sword in ice. While that doesn't sound particularly smart, it was actually powerful. The ice had the capability of freezing anything near it, people included. His opponents were in great danger of freezing if they were fighting him.
Lastly, Natsu's magic allowed him to engulf his sword into one made of fire. Like Gray, he could light objects and people on fire but he was not fond of doing that often. His magic also made him fire-resistant to a certain extent.
August was proud of all the boys, who each had different skills. Though they were not related, August felt as if they began to look and behave like their adoptive parents as each day passed. Perhaps it was because August had repeatedly retold their parents' stories, engraving them deep inside each prince's brain. Or maybe it was because despite being separated after a few years, the King and the Queen had actually engraved themselves deep into the boys' minds before departing. Either way, the boys, now men, only resembled their parents more as time passed.
It was a Spring day when Jellal finally decided it was time. Time to take back their rightful place and destroy Acnologia just as he had destroyed Zeref. It was finally time to free their mother from Acnologia's cruel clutches.
It was finally time for Fiore to become happy again.
Once Jellal spoke to his three brothers about his plan, they went to August as a group to talk to him about it. August listened quietly as Jellal told him what they wanted to achieve. No, what they will achieve.
"But how?" August questioned after a minute of silence. "How are you going to kill Acnologia and take back the throne?"
"We are strong, Pops," Natsu spoke up, calling August by the nickname he loved. "We'll just march to the Capital and kick their butts!" As if to prove a point, Natsu began to make fighting noises and hit the air before him in mock excitement.
August rolled his eyes, though a smile played on his ageing lips. "It's not that simple, boy."
"Sure it is," Gajeel smirked, cracking his knuckles. These two were one of a kind, Gajeel and Natsu. They were always impulsive, rushing forward without thinking of the consequences. Jellal and Gray were the thinkers of the group. This did not mean that Natsu and Gajeel were dumb, but simply that they were not bothered to use their brains.
"It's not," August said. "If it was that simple, people would have already gotten rid of him!"
As Gajeel opened his mouth to retort, Jellal held a hand, silencing the gruff man. "So we need a plan."
August shook his head. "No, you need help."
"Yeah, Natsu needs some mental help," Gray snickered, trying to lighten the mood.
"Hey!" Natsu grabbed a fist of Gray's raven hair and pulled harshly. Before Gray could retaliate, Gajeel punched the both of them.
"This is a serious conversation!"
"Sorry," both Natsu and Gray said, looking down and trying their best to look serious.
"Right," Jellal turned back to August. "What kind of help are you talking about?"
August stood up from the wooden chair and began to pace the stone floor, head bowed as he stroked his long white beard. Finally, he looked up.
"There's a bar in the town," he started.
"I thought you said we should stay away from those places," Gray interrupted, "because we're Princes and stuff."
"You're not going to drink, Gray," August sighed and ran a wrinkled hand over his tired face. "Bars are places of gatherings; a place where people come together and share information. It's the best place to find information, but that's not why you should go there."
"No?" Jellal asked, curiosity peeking through his brown eyes.
August shook his head before looking at all four of them. "No, go there and ask for someone. A woman named Cana, Cana Alberona. She's the daughter of my best friend; the bar owner. Tell her that August sent you."
Jellal nodded as Gajeel shrugged gruffly. Natsu looked confused.
"Wait... you aren't coming with us?" He asked, onyx eyes looking downcast.
August shook his head wearily, causing both Gray and Natsu to tear up.
"This isn't my fight, boys, it's yours. I'll be here, waiting for your successful return."
The four men stood outside the pub, swords hanging lightly on their sides, covered by a simple invisibility charm August had lent them. They wore long cloaks, hoods up, just in case they ran into a patrol.
"So this is the place?"
Gajeel scrunched his nose in disgust as they walked into the pub. It was daytime, and yet the pub was filled, and overcrowded with noisy and drunk people. Gajeel and Natsu both had sensitive noses, and they both grimaced at the heavy scent of alcohol. None of the boys had ever drank alcohol before. August hadn't banned alcohol, but he had never said that they could drink. Just to be on the safe side, neither boys drank alcohol, but now that they were in the bar, Gray couldn't help but want a small drink.
"No," Jellal said even though Gray hadn't even opened his mouth. "Don't even think about it."
Gray pouted but immediately grimaced as he witnessed an old fellow retching out the remains of his lunch onto the slick wooden floor.
"Ugh, you old geezer!" A barely dressed woman came out of the crowd, one hand holding up a tray full of beer mugs and the other resting on her voluptuous hip. Natsu and Gray's cheeks reddened at the woman, and even though Jellal and Gajeel were embarrassed, it did not show on their faces. "I have to clean this now!"
"Sorry Cana," the man grinned at the taller woman, his yellow teeth shining in the dim lighting. "I'll pay you tomorrow."
"Geez, you old man," the woman said with a harsh tone, though her face was smiling. "You always say that."
The man laughed good-naturedly as a young boy appeared out of nowhere to clean the spill. Within a few moments, the pub was back to normal and the black-haired woman was nowhere to be seen.
"Wait," Gajeel remarked once the boys broke out of their trance. Jellal raised an eyebrow at him while Gray and Natsu both nodded at him incoherently. "Did you see her?"
"Yeah, I did," Natsu muttered. "She was so curvy."
Gray groaned. "Eww, you perv."
Jellal shook his head at the two youngsters. "What do you mean Gajeel?"
"Her name," Gajeel prompted, causing Jellal's eyes to widen as the other two brothers looked at him stupidly. "Wasn't it Cana?"
Natsu and Gray looked at each other with wide eyes before rushing around to find the pretty lady.
"The old August sent you?" Cana questioned, washing the beer jugs and wiping them clean. "Damn, I didn't know he had four hot men living with him."
Natsu and Gajeel's cheeks reddened as Jellal merely shook his head. Gray took it one step forward and leaned over the wooden counter.
"Well, he never mentioned a beautiful lady like you would be here either. If I knew before, I'd be coming here every day."
Natsu gagged as Jellal let out a chuckle at Gray's first attempt at flirting. Cana glared playfully at Gray.
"Watch it, kid! I'm probably older than you, and more experienced," she smirked. "And I wouldn't be leaning on that counter if I were you, an old man just retched on it an hour ago."
Gray's face dropped into one of fear as he stood up abruptly, wiping his arms on the towel hanging on the tap, glaring at the counter in disgust. Natsu burst off laughing, clutching his stomach. Gajeel snickered and Jellal chuckled.
"So what do you need?" Cana asked once the laughter died down. "As pretty as I am, I doubt you're here to see me."
"Right," Jellal's voice turned serious. "August told us... well... that you would know how we could potentially..." his voice dropped a few decibels. "Kill the King."
Cana's playful eyes turned serious as her smile dropped. She glanced around worriedly before gesturing for the four men to come inside. Jellal was the last to enter, and he looked around thoroughly before entering the dark corridor that led to Cana's house.
"You shouldn't talk about it in public like that," Cana whispered after a while. "You don't know who might be listening."
Jellal nodded curtly. "Can you really help us?"
"I don't know," Cana shrugged. "I can give you information, but whether or not it is true and actually helpful, you'll have to determine yourselves."
"What?" Gajeel asked, confused.
Cana led them to a study and turned on the lights before walking to a large wooden bookshelf.
"What did she mean by that?" Natsu whispered to Gray, who shrugged in response. Not even Jellal knew what she had meant. Was she about to narrate a fairy tale to them and hope they follow it? What could she possibly bestow upon them that could be truthful or not?
"Aha!" Cana grabbed a book from the top shelf and turned to the men. "This is what you're looking for."
Hey minna,
Thanks for reading as always.
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