It was supposed to be a nice day. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, my chores were completed, Natsu and Gray were content...

When Sir Macao and Sir Wakaba rushed to the Throne Room, breathless, and reported that there was an army of skeletons' that couldn't be killed, storming Fiore, the king had laughed.

"Too much to drink?" Faust mocked, laughing heartily.

"Sire," Macao said, shaking his head frantically. "I'm not kidding."

My first suspicion had been Minerva. I glanced at the king's ward who sat on her throne beside Faust, Jellal, and Siegrain. She was expressionless as always, her piercing gaze trained on Macao Conbolt.

Sometimes I regretted healing her. I knew Igneel was right, but to be honest.. I had done it for the Fernandes' twins and the Fernandes twins alone.

King Faust got up from his throne and drew back the curtains, giving us a panoramic view of the army that had come to kill us. He exhaled sharply and shouted, "Jellal! Send out the knights! This is war against Bosco!"

How he knew it was Bosco? I had no clue. But then again, Faust blamed everything on Bosco.

~ ~ ~

"Sieg," Jellal said as calmly as possible, rising from his seat. "Take as many of the knights as you need and scout ahead. I'll stay back."

Siegrain nodded and began shouting commands. He rushed out of the room, skidding down the halls, and skipping steps as he descended the stairs. Prince Siegrain got on to his horse and led half of Fiore's army into the Outer Sector.

"Now what?" I panicked, following the rest of the trainee knights and approaching the man that was supposed to command us.

Jellal rubbed his head. "I'm trying to think."

"We don't have time to think!" I argued. "We need to fight!"

The crown prince nodded and regained his composure. "Right."

Raising his sword, he yelled, "For the love of Fiore!"

The knights' raised their swords, "For the love of Fiore!"

"ATTACK!"

They charged out of the room and stormed the courtyard.

~ ~ ~

"Erza?" Mira Jane asked, watching as I lingered near the exit. "Shouldn't you be fighting?"

"Yes," I gasped, hopping from one foot to the other nervously. "But not now. Does Faust know this is dark magic?"

Porlyusica nodded. "Yes, but I can't talk now. The wounded are coming in any second."

I left the Throne Room where cots were being spread out, ready for the injured men that would come in any minute.

Minerva..Where is she? Where are Minerva and Morgause?

I unsheathed my sword and ran back outside, trying to find Jellal.

"Erza!" the prince yelled.

I whirled around, just in time to fight off a skeleton. The skeleton was shorter then me, which gave me quite an advantage. It held a sword and fought brutally. I managed to stab it in the gut, causing it to fall into a pile of bone. Within seconds, the pile of bones knit together, forming a new skeleton.

I cursed and left the skeleton before it noticed me again.

"Jellal!" I whispered. "How will we win?"

"I don't know," he replied sadly.

But I did know. I needed to find Morgause and Minerva. They must be the ones controlling the skeleton army.

~ ~ ~

"You were right, my lady," King Ivan whispered from atop his horse. Morgause smiled from beside him.

"I told you, Minerva Fernandes would not betray us."

The king's eyes darkened and Laxus gave a little gasp of surprise. "She's a Fernandes? I thought she was an Orland!"

"It appears King Faust was lying."

Ivan glared at Morgause. "She will betray us! She is a-"

Morgause slid off her horse and unsheathed her sword. Pointing her blade at the king's neck she whispered, "What were you saying?"

"N-Nothing, my lady."

They never noticed that Prince Laxus Dreyar had disappeared.

~ ~ ~

"O drakon, fthengomai au se kalon su katerkheo deuro!"  I shouted, once I was well away from the battle.

Igneel swooped down from the sky and landed beside me. In an almost bored tone, he asked, "Why bother coming to me when you never listen?"

"Look," I said carefully. "I'm sorry. But right now, Fiore is in trouble. I know there's a dark source of magic coming from Morgause that's controlling the skeleton army."

"Perhaps. But what makes you think Morgause is the one controlling them? Why not Minerva?"

"Minerva?" I asked in surprise. "She only just discovered her magic. She can't possibly be that strong."

"But that's where you're wrong," Igneel told me, closing his eyes. "Morgause is training her to be a High Priestess."

Noticing my confusion, the dragon added, "A High Priestess is beyond being a sorceress. It's for those who want more."

I frowned. "What if I want to be a High Priestess?"

"Now is not the time. Becoming a High Priestess is not in your destiny. You will learn magic so great, one day, that you will become the most powerful sorceress to walk the lands of Albion. One day."

"You never answered my question," I said irritably. Getting answers from magical creatures could be so stressful!

"The heart of Fiore, young sorceress."

~ ~ ~

Jellal was a warrior. Out of the twins, Siegrain had always been the quiet one, the thinker. Jellal couldn't stand still for two seconds. And he hated being told what to do. So when he charged into battle against the skeleton soldiers, he couldn't help but feel cheated. Jellal must have killed at least twenty, but none had stayed dead for long.

The Crown Prince was surrounded. Five skeletons on each side. All with swords. Life really wasn't fair.

~ ~ ~

"The dungeon's," I told Mira. "I'll be back. Stay here. Be safe."

"What?!" Mira asked, as I ran off.

I climbed down the stairs only to find Jellal waiting for me.

"Jellal?" I asked, relieved. "There you are! What are you doing? Hiding?"

"Let's take a break," Jellal murmured, stepping forward.

"W-What?" I stammered. "This is a battle, Jellal! Out of all people, you should know that!"

"It'll be fun," he said, kissing my forehead.

I slowly unsheathed my sword. And then I stabbed him.