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Simon wasn't sure if he was grateful or suspicious, perhaps a bit of both. The soldiers had seen to his and Elise's needs well enough, but he wasn't sure if that was a good thing. He had been fed, and given transport to the royal city, but that wasn't enough to quell his belief they'd find out about his deception. True, he really didn't care if these soldiers found out he wasn't really Prince, but at the same time, he feared what would happen at the same time. Without his magic, he couldn't do much of anything. Of course he had taken a sword for himself, but he felt exposed without the option of his own armor. He sighed as Elise groaned.
"Could this airship be any more unstable?" She mumbled. "I can feel my lunch trying to kill me"
"Maybe you should've eaten less then" Simon replied. "We've already slowed down to the point where it'll take us a few days to get to the royal city"
"Can we go any slower?"
"Can we?" Simon asked the pilot, who shook his head.
"We already have to make several stops on the way, your Highness" He replied. "any slower and we'll be going downwards."
"There you have it" Simon told Elise, who moaned. "We can't go any slower."
"My stomach hasn't hurt so much since Phantom Dove..." Simon paled as Elise flinched. "I was sick that week, after all..." Yes, sick. Simon hoped she didn't remember anything about that with him. He wasn't sure he had the emotional capacity to help her any.
"Yes," he said slowly. "You sure were" Elise continued to groan as the airship continued on it's way. Simon wished she'd shut up for everyone's sake, he didn't need the pilot trying to kill her to shut her up. Simon was also worried that the guards hadn't had a second thought about the Prince showing up in town, looking near dead with a random girl. Wouldn't the Prince of wherever they were have a personal guard or something? He was glad that he resembled the Prince enough to fool them, but he still wondered. "How long until we reach our first stop?" Simon asked the pilot, who turned to face him.
"At this speed, it'll take a few hours." We could speed up, but..." Simon could tell the pilot was referring to Elise, and he sighed.
"It's okay, we're in no hurry"
Nashi was in a big hurry. She wanted to get back to the city and talk to Mystogan and see if he'd heard anything about Simon and Elise, although she felt like she doubted it. She managed to get out of the carriage as it stopped and she stretched, yawning.
"Are we there yet?" She heard Drake moan from inside.
"We have at least another day and a half" Damien replied, stepping out. "And from what I saw in there, you won't make it without throwing up"
"Make him think about it more" Ultear scolded. "That'll do well" Nashi chuckled as they walked through the small town they'd stopped at. "So, this is Edolas huh?"
"Yep" Damien said. "Want everything you've ever known to be questioned while you can't use magic without taking a pill? This is the place"
"Must be tourist hot spot" Drake replied, rubbing his stomach. "That guy back there looked like my dad, is that weird?"
"That was your dad" Nashi replied. "Well, it's Edo-Drake's dad anyway" Drake looked confused.
"Wait, was he my dad or no?"
"Kind of. Think of him as your step dad"
"What am I like over here?" Ultear asked curiously. Nashi chuckled.
"You're slutty and a total bitch" Nashi replied. "Your opposite" Ultear looked rather shocked.
"Me? Hard to believe" Damien snorted.
"You were hitting on me for at least 30 minutes" Ultear laughed at his response.
"As if"
"We'll ask her when we get back then" Nashi smiled weakly at the bickering. She was glad they'd managed to find two of their friends. She hoped Simon and Elise were okay. She obviously had no doubt in her mind they were, but she couldn't help but worry.
"Can we eat something?" Drake asked, his hands behind his head. "I'm hungry"
"I am not allowing you to eat a Mavis damn thing" Ultear said flatly. "You'll throw it up on the way back."
"But I'm hungry!"
"Deal with it!"
"How about we not argue about this?" Damien asked, his tone saying it wasn't actually a question. Simon may have had the Erza's son scare tactic, but Damien had the terrifying takeover to back up his threats. Nashi felt her own stomach rumble.
"Even if we wanted food" Nashi spoke up. "Jewel isn't legal tender here. We couldn't buy food even if we wanted food."
"Damn," Drake sighed. "I could really use a sandwich."
"Or a steak" Damien said wistfully.
"Stop talking about it," Ul grumbled. "We weren't fed very well by those bandits and..." Ul was interrupted when her stomach roared in anger at the lack of food it had. "...I'm actually pretty hungry" Nashi chuckled.
"I remember that food we were fed at the castle" She sighed, remembering how much she'd eaten that night. "It was pretty amazing"
"Agreed" Damien replied.
"Lucky..." Drake trailed off.
Simon stepped out of the airship after Elise (Who was currently throwing up too the side of the airship) and surveyed the squad of soldiers waiting for him. They'd clearly been informed of their arrival, and Simon felt it was rather unnecessary. Whoever this Prince was, he was clearly one pompous prick. The squad saluted him.
"Prince Simon, we were informed of your arrival" Their leader said. "Is there anything you need while your airship is refueled?" Simon thought for a moment.
"Got any doctors that specialize in curing motion sickness?" He asked suddenly, pointing towards Elise. "My frie...guard is terrible with vehicles."
"Yes sir, we have such a doctor. Please, right this way" Elise trailed behind Simon as they were lead inside the compound, and Simon marveled at the area. Although he'd seen plenty of airships in Earthland, he was always slightly taken aback at the technological advancement here. Although they still used horses and carriages for ground transport, he'd seen airships, cars, pig machines that are called 'tanks' or whatever, it was all surreal, truthfully. The soldiers pointed out the doctor, and Elise left to see her, and Simon continued towards the control center with the rest of the squad. When they reached their destination, a man with four stars pinned to his jacket, and what Simon guessed was a stick up his ass, advanced towards him, bowing,
"Your Highness" The General spoke. "It is an honor to be in your presence. Is there anything we can do to make your temporary stay more enjoyable?" Simon thought for a moment.
"Break out the champagne, General." Simon finally said. "I want a drink"
"Nothing but the hard stuff, my Grace. Will whiskey suffice?" Simon pretended this upset him for dramatic effect, which caused the General to stiffen.
"My my, not even a fancy drink for royalty... I'm disappointed, General" The General gulped as the command room quieted down. Simon quite liked the amount of power he commanded, even if it technically wasn't his.
"I...I'm terribly sorry, your Highness" The General spoke quietly. "I...shall be more careful in the future."
"See that you are. Now, fetch me my whiskey... oh, and General?"
"Yes?"
"Please do me more careful. I am most certain my father would be displeased to hear of your...discharge from our military." The General gulped.
"Of course, Prince Simon." He said stiffly. "The whiskey, yes?"
"Yes, Oh, and perhaps you should get me something to eat. I hear refueling takes quite some time."
"Yes, yes or course your Highness, right away" Simon smirked as the General hurried away. I could get used to this...
Nashi smiled as they entered the Royal city. She was glad to be back, she felt much safer inside these walls. The thought, however, was quickly diminished when they were surrounded by the guards.
"What is going on here?" Erik demanded. "I command you to stand down!"
"On orders from the King, we are to detain the Earthland mages upon their return, Commander Erik" The Captain spoke. "Please step away" Before he could protest, Erik was whisked away by the guards, and Nashi heard a familiar voice chuckle.
"Thought your little trick would escape me, Earthlanders?" Nashi turned to find Prince Simon walking through the crowd, and they parted as he did.
"Earthlanders?"
"Are they from Earthland?"
"Are they responsible for what happened to the king and queen?" What had happened to Mystogan and Erza? Nashi felt a terrible feeling settling in her stomach as Prince Simon reached them.
"I see you have found your friends" He said, "No matter, I've discovered your plan"
"Simon?" Drake asked, which earned him a glare.
"That's King Simon, ruler of Edolas, to you " Nashi made a face.
"You're only the Prince" She said, balling her fists. "What happened to Mystogan?" Prince Simon turned to face her, face contorted with anger.
"I'm sure you already know the answer to that, Earthlander" He spat, making Nashi even angrier. "My mother and father are currently on their deathbeds, thanks to you two and your little friends"
"What the hell did we do?" Damien demanded. Prince Simon glared at him.
"The advisors found the poison, Dreyar," He hissed. "I know you tried to murder the King and Queen." The crowd gasped, and started making wild accusations.
"Earthlanders poisoned the King and Queen?"
"Bastards, are they planning to invade?!"
"Kill them where they stand!" King Simon raised a hand and silenced the crowd.
"Did you really think your foolish plan would go unnoticed, or did you think we would overlook the fact the King and Queen get poisoned right when Earthland Mages appear in Edolas for the first time in almost thirty years?!" He growled. "I am disgusted by you, all of you. Guards! Arrest them for crimes against the royal family of Edolas" Before Nashi could say a word, she felt handcuffs snap around her wrists. When she attempted to use her magic, she felt electricity course through her.
"Anti magic handcuffs?!" Ultear shouted. "Where the hell did you get those?!"
"Get the out of my sight, now"Nashi struggled as hard as she could as the guards took her and her friends away, screaming insults at his royal pain in the ass.
Prince Simon managed to suppress his grin as he entered his parents chambers, moving to the edge of the bed.
"Leave us" he ordered the guards, and they did as he commanded. Simon chuckled slightly as they shut the door.
"Oh beloved father, how foolish you are" Simon said, moving to stare out the window at the city. "Sawyer told you a million times that a royal food taster was a good idea, but no..." Simon smirked. "Not that it would've mattered, the poison only took effect twelve hours after ingestion." He moved the the bedside again, staring at his parents ghostly faces. Both were clearly in a lot of pain, and Simon felt a little sick he enjoyed that. "I've lived in your shadow for far too long. Now with the emergency powers granted to me in the countries time of need, I shall make my voice heard. Granted the Earthlanders gave me the perfect frame. Earthlanders show up and the King and Queen mysteriously fall ill? How convenient, no?"
"Uhhh..." His mother moaned, and Simon frowned.
"Granted, you two had stronger immune systems then I had imagined. But, no matter, with the emergency power I have been granted, I have everything I need..." He smiled to himself at the thought. "You always said I had no eye for detail, Mother. Would you be proud of me, for once, if you saw me now?" He got no response, and he kicked the bed in a fit of rage. "Answer me, whore! Are you fucking proud now?!" Simon took a minute to calm down, and returned to the window, taking several deep breaths, just as his multiple (Now dead or missing) therapists had suggested he do in his fits of anger.
"Uh..." His father groaned.
"I have everything I need, the stars have aligned, father, can you feel it?" Simon asked under his breath, a devilish smirk adorning his handsome features. "The invasion force must be amassed for when the Anima opens again... and I already have my key to it, the Earthland mages..." Simon turned to glare at his parents. "You always told me stories of Earthland's strength, Father. Now, I shall see how weak they really are as our army tears through their lands, killing everyone in the wake of Edolas' beauty."
"King Simon" A guards voice said outside the door. "Counsel woman Ultear has requested your presence at the meeting"
"Tell her I shall be there in a moment" Simon replied. He cast one more look at his parents, and smiled darkly. "Let us see just how strong this Fairy Tail is, Mystogan" With that, Simon turned and left the chambers, knowing well it would be the last time he returned to it for a while.
Wow, dark ending there, huh? Can we manage five or more reviews again? If you enjoyed, remember to leave one, like always!