Natsu and Grab pin Jellal's body to the wall, huffing as they attempt to restrain him.

"Calm him down!" King Faust yelled. "Take him to his room! Call for Porlyusica!"

"Father, you need to calm down," Prince Siegrain said, approaching his twin brother. "Let me deal with him."

Siegrain grabbed Jellal by the shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Jellal, there's no one here except, me, Father, and the knights. No blood. Nothing."

Jellal looked around, his hands shaking.

Porlyusica gently pushed Siegrain out of the way and said, "Take him to his room. He needs rest."

With the help of Prince Siegrain, Natsu and Gray managed to get the Crown Prince to his bed.

King Faust turned to Porlyusica worriedly. "What's wrong with him?"

The old woman bit her lip. "He appears to be..going crazy."

"Going crazy?" Faust asked, his voice getting louder. "I've raised Jellal to be a proper prince and one day a proper king since birth. And you say he's going crazy?"

"What else could it be?" Porlyusica asked. "Magic?"

Faust shook his head. "I don't know..Just, please. I beg of you. Please heal him."

"I'll try sire. I'll try."

~ ~ ~

Minerva quietly walked into Jellal's room. Jellal lay on his bed, his eyes wide opened. Minerva waved her hand in front of his face. He did not blink. He was frozen in shock.

The king's ward smiled slightly. The mandrake root was working. Morgause would be pleased. She bent down and pulled the root out from under Jellal's bed. She put it into her pocket. Morgause would need to add a little bit more of the potion so that tomorrow Jellal would see another illusion. This time, worse than ever.

~ ~ ~

I groaned and got up into sitting position. My head was aching and my skin was burning. Igneel rested beside me, his wing sheltering me from the sun.

"Igneel?" I whispered. 

The dragon lifted his head up and looked at me.

"Thank you."

"I owed you one, young sorceress. We are equal now."

I nodded and got up, wincing in pain.

"Minerva has teamed with a woman named Morgause," I remembered. "Why?"

"It just as she said. She wanted attention. She wanted help. And Morgause gave her everything. Lady Minerva does not realize Morgause is using her," Igneel said.

"They're the ones who've been using..magic or something to give Jellal these illusions.."

Igneel nodded thoughtfully. "Yes."

"So he's not going crazy?"

"Of course not. It's quite simple actually. Mandrake root and tears of the enemy."

"Tears?" I exclaimed. "How did she get Jellal's tears?"

"I do not know. But I do know you must burn the mandrake root."

"You're right. I need to go," I murmured. "But..where am I?"

Igneel's eyes glimmered mischievously. "You don't need to know."

"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes. "But can you take me back to the castle? I can ride on your back."

He huffed indignantly, "I am not a horse!"

~ ~ ~

It was night once again. Jellal lay under his bed, watching as the ghost-like creatures flew around his room.

"Come out, Jellal. You can't hide from me!"

Jellal whimpered and covered his eyes. Something grabbed his shoulder. The prince cried out in fear and darted to the closet.

"Got you know!" 

The girl, Chelia, stood behind him and covered his mouth and nose. He couldn't breathe. Jellal writhed in the girl's grip. He needed air. Air. Air..

~ ~ ~

I swiftly slid off of Igneel's back and whispered, "Thanks."

"Remember this, young sorceress. And don't ask to ride on my back again."

I smiled momentarily and ran into the castle.

"Porlyusica!" I yelled, running into the physician's office.

Mira Jane jumped in surprise. "Erza? Where were you?"

Porlyusica immediately started asking questions as well. "I'd like to know as well."

"No time," I gasped. "We need to help Jellal."

"You know what's wrong?" Mira asked. "Are you going to use healing magic or something?" 

"No. It's Minerva. There's this mandrake root that's causing him to see things."

"Minerva?" Mira Jane asked, her face crumpling.

I had forgotten how much Lady Minerva meant to Mira. She was Minerva's best servant, after all.

"Well..I'm not sure yet," I lied.

Mira grabbed a wet piece of cloth and began to wipe at one of my wounds. "We need to treat you first, Erza."

I shook my head. "The prince will always come before me."

~ ~ ~

"He saw another vision today," Porlyusica explained as we walked to Jellal's chambers.

"The poor guy," I whispered. "Those illusions must be scary."

The older woman nodded. "He was moaning something about blood."

I cringed. Why would Minerva want to do this to him?

"He hasn't spoken in two days ago," Porlyusica said. "I hope burning the root works."

"Igneel said so."

"I hope the dragon is right."

We entered the room.

"Where is he?" I muttered.

"Probably hiding under the bed or something."

Porlyusica crouched down and checked.

"He's by the curtains," I hissed.

She nodded and began talking to him. "Sire, we need you to calm down. Sire, blink if you can hear me."

He didn't blink.

I shuddered. I crawled under the bed and grabbed the root. I recoiled as a weird, black liquid dripped on to my fingers. Was this the potion? I wiped it on my skirt and yanked the mandrake root out of the bed sheets. 

"Quickly!" Porlyusica whispered.

"Fumei," I whispered. My hand lit the root into flames.

Instantly, Jellal let out a sigh and slumped back into the physician's arms.

"He must be exhausted," she said. "The prince hasn't slept in days." I helped him into the bed and Faust immediately came in.

"Is he okay? Is he better? I thought I smelled smoke."

"The antidote tends to smell like that."

King Faust smiled with relief. "Thank you, Porlyusica. Thank you!"

~ ~ ~

I sat beside Jellal's bed the whole night. Gave him water when he needed it. Made sure the blanket was securely tucked around him. The prince needed his sleep.

"I was really scared when I saw you crying, you know," I admitted. "I'm glad you're okay."

The prince slept on.

~ ~ ~

"We are in your debt," Faust said. "For healing my son."

"Thank you, sire," Porlyusica said, a trace of guilt in her voice. She glanced at me with pity.

After all, I was the one who had done all the work. But sometimes, in order to save a person, you have to help them in ways they will never know.

"You shall be rewarded greatly," Faust continued. "What would you like?"

"Nothing, sire."

Natsu, Gray, Jellal and I left the king and his physician in the Throne Room to resume our daily training.

"Thank you," Jellal said softly.

I raised my eyebrows. "For what?"

"For staying beside me."

I fidgeted nervously. Had he seen my magic?

"P-Porlyusica stayed with you. Not me. I didn't do anything."

"I know," he responded. "But..I thought I heard you say something like..'I missed you.'"

I hit him on the shoulder. "I did not!"

Jellal chuckled lightly and hit my shoulder back.

It was good to have him back to normal. 

Brave and arrogant. 

A friend.