"You need to move faster," Jellal told Ultear. "You're too slow. Move your blade like this."

I could tell Ultear was trying her best, but she had never trained with such high-tech equipment before. She was from the Outer Sector. This was her first time, unlike me.

I watched as King Faust watched from the distance, frowning.

I twisted a strand of scarlet hair around my finger. I should've trained Ultear more..

Ultear stumbled to the ground, Jellal hovered over her, his sword pointed at her throat.

The dark-haired woman kicked his legs and he stumbled backwards. I hid a smile.

Jellal sprang up with a small smile on his face. "You have potential, Gisei. With a bit of training, you'd be a wonderful knight."

"Am I.." Ultear trailed off, to excited to finish her sentence.

Jellal patted her shoulder. "Your ceremony shall be tonight."

~ ~ ~

"I'm so proud!" Mira squealed, tackling Ultear in a hug.

"All thanks to Erza," Ultear said modestly.

I helped her out of her armor, setting aside her helmet and untying her long hair.

"It's going to be tough," I told her. "I don't  know how you're going to disguise as a man for the rest of your life."

"I'll deal with that," Ultear said. 

~ ~ ~

"Gisei Eldred," King Faust said, as Ultear knelt before him, helmet on her head. "Fifth son of Lord Eldred."

"Yes, sire."

"Where is your father?" Faust asked. "I'm sure he would've come to Fiore to watch his youngest son become a knight of Fiore."

"He was running errands, sire."

Lahar spoke up. "I was doing research, sire."

"Yes, Lahar?" Faust asked, not taking his eyes off of Ultear.

"There is no fifth son, sire."

"I know," King Faust said slowly. "Arrest him. He will be hanged for the act of forgery."

"Father!" Jellal exclaimed, much to my surprise. "He's a good man! He only wanted to serve Fiore as a knight!"

"He lied!" Faust yelled, as two guards yanked Ultear up from the ground.

"Please, Father!" the prince begged. "Banish him Fiore! This is not right!"

The king got up close to his son. "You dare question me?"

"Father-"

"I agree with Jellal," Prince Siegrain whispered from the corner.

Outraged that his two sons' were speaking against him he yelled, "Leave, Gisei Milkovich! Leave Fiore! If you return, you will be killed!"

 ~ ~ ~

"I'm so, so sorry," I whispered.

Ultear ripped off her armor and gathered her few belongings. "You tried. We both tried."

"I should've...been more creative. Worked harder."

"I'm not a man. I'm not royalty."

I ran a hand through my hair angrily. "I'm neither of those! Yet I'm a knight!"

Ultear smiled sadly. "It's quite obvious why. Faust hates you, yet Jellal finds you..amusing."

"Amusing?" I repeated.

The woman turned around to face me. "You can't save me, Erza. I'm going to be hanged for forgery of a royal seal. I did this, knowing the consequences. Leave me, Erza."

"You're a good friend," I said softly. "I don't have many friends, you know."

"Same with me. But now I must leave."

She opened the door and left.

~ ~ ~

"We must deal with the griffin," Jellal told me.

"No one cares about the damn griffin," I muttered.

He gave me a sideways glance. "Grumpy?"

I didn't respond.

"I'm sorry about Gisei. He was a good man. I tried the best I could. Being banished is better than being killed."

"I know," I said. I whispered softly, almost to myself, "You're a better man than your father could ever be."

I'm not sure he heard, but if he did he didn't say anything. We were quiet for the rest of the trip.

~ ~ ~

We heard the griffin before we saw it. Suddenly a daring idea came to mind. I glanced at Jellal. The idea was risky. But it might be worth it.

When the griffin saw Jellal, it screeched and dove towards him, claws out.

Jellal unsheathed his sword and prepared to strike.

I squinted my eyes and whispered, "Fleoge."

Jellal tripped backwards, his sword flying out of his hand.

~ ~ ~

At first I thought I made a huge mistake.

But when Ultear came out of no where, her dark hair tucked away under a cap, I knew I had done the right thing.

She charged and got ready to stab the griffin. But the griffin was too quick and easily dodged, raising one of it's claws and getting ready to push Ultear away.

"Yujia," I mumbled, making Ultear's sword fly out of her hand and stab the griffin's eye.

The beast screeched one last time and flew away.

Jellal turned over on his side and whispered, "Gisei..You did it.."

I stood to the side, watching proudly as the prince congratulated Ultear, promising to make him a knight, no matter what his father said.

~ ~ ~

"You have magic," Ultear said, as we waited outside the Throne Room. The prince and king were arguing about making Ultear, or should I say Gisei, a knight of Fiore.

"Shh," I whispered. "Not so loud!"

"I saw you," she continued, obviously pleased. "How else would my sword fly out my hand.

"Well, you're a lot smarter then Jellal," I replied.

"Jellal doesn't know?"

"Of course not!"

"It must be hard, using magic for good and not getting any credit."

I squared my shoulders and proudly said, "It's my duty."

~ ~ ~

"Gisei Milkovich," King Faust said. "After some heated debate," he continued, staring pointedly at Jellal. "I have decided you are worthy of becoming a knight. You saved my son."

The king unsheathed his sword and raised it. "It's my honor to make you a knight-"

"No," Ultear said, staring at me. "I am not worthy. I did nothing."

I gaped at her. What was she doing?

"But you killed-"

"Yes, I did. But I am not ready. Maybe someday I will be worthy. Someday."