Summary: Faust has grown weaker ever since the battle with the immortal army...

~ ~ ~

Fiore had recovered from the battle. Everything was rebuilt, the injured were now healed. Lucy had settled as queen of Stella and Laxus as king of Bosco. But the king of Fiore wasn't fine.

As a matter of fact, he was as good as dead.

Faust didn't eat.

He didn't speak.

He sat in his chair, overlooking Fiore, not moving. 

King Faust, our king, has been like this for three months. Until today when everything changed.

~ ~ ~

"Father," Jellal said softly. "Tomorrow is our birthday. Mine and Sieg's."

Faust didn't move.

"I know that Minerva really hurt you...She hurt a lot of us..but Fiore needs you." His voice cracked. "I need you. There's so much to learn..Being king.."

Faust said nothing.

"I know it's childish, but..I wanted you to attend our party," Jellal said, rubbing the back of his neck, unable to meet his father's eyes. "Please?"

And then very slowly, King Faust raised his head and said, "Anything for you, Jellal."

~ ~ ~

I stepped through the open doors of the Throne Room and watched while the servants and maids of the castle bustled about busily, adding decorations and lights and extra chairs.

"Don't you dare touch that strawberry cake," the head chef snapped, hitting my hand before exiting the room.

"Yes, ma'am!" I called out over my shoulder.

I returned my gaze to the front of the room, were King Faust stood. To be honest, I hated the king. He was a merciless king who had killed thousands of innocent people. But he was speaking and moving around again, and clearly, Prince Jellal and Siegrain were happy about it.

It was hard keeping Faust's new behavior hidden from the public eye.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Jellal asked, tapping my head lightly. I tilted my head to look up at him.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Well," he said thoughtfully. "I've got Gray and Natsu working in the kitchens-"

I snorted, "If you keep making horrible decisions, there will be no birthday party!"

The prince smiled. "True, true. But, who cares? Why don't you go deal with my royal garments?"

"Deal with your-" I broke off. "Your traditional clothes!? I can't wash those! I'll ruin them!"

"Which will make it so much more interesting! Imagine Father's face!" Jellal laughed before leaving.

~ ~ ~

"I've hired some actors and jokers to amuse us," King Faust said. His two sons' nodded eagerly. "It'll be like a circus performance. The food is also being arranged. And your clothes-"

"Are being tended to," Jellal said, a shadow of a smile spreading across his face.

"What about mine?" Siegrain protested.

"I don't know," his brother replied carelessly. "Go get a servant."

~ ~ ~

"There's a wrinkle," Mira pointed out, smoothing out Jellal's crisp white shirt.

"Who cares?" I sighed. "He'll be wearing his big, heavy cloak on top anyway."

"Erza, Erza," Mira teased, folding the shirt and handing it to me. 

"I think it's fine. You did a good job ironing it. Set it on Prince Jellal's bed."

"Well, then my lady," I said, eyes twinkling. I grabbed the shirt from him and headed down the corridor.

"I told you to stay away from my cake," the cook snapped, standing on her tip-toes to get into my face.

I sighed and moved to the side, letting to the crowd of servants and cooks and come and go.

"I did," I retorted. "I swear, I haven't touched it. Not this time. It was one of the other knights. I swear!"

I pushed past her and ended bumping into another cook holding a pitcher of red wine.

And very conveniently, that red wine got all over Jellal's freshly washed and ironed white shirt.

"Watch where you're going!" I snapped, becoming very irritable. Jellal and Siegrain's party was tonight and I was in a terribly bad mood.

I groaned and inspected his shirt. A big red splotch in the middle of the cloth, almost like a blood stain. 

Jellal would be furious! No, not furious. He'd laugh and then make me wash it out. Like that was even possible.

"Well isn't that annoying," Ultear said, passing by me with a bouquet of flowers. She paused and whispered, "Nothing a sorceress couldn't solve, right?"

I grinned and turned my back to the passing people. I stared at the shirt, working my magic on it. Soon enough, the stain disappeared.

I raised the shirt and showed Ultear. She gave me a thumbs up and continued walking.

~ ~ ~

"We are ready, sire," the jester said, kneeling before the king.

"Are my sons ready?" Faust asked, looking at Jellal and Siegrain.

"Of course!"

From the knights' table at the back of the room, we watched jugglers, clowns, jesters, singers, and dancers all perform. It was wonderful, and for a moment I could close my eyes and relax. I could forget about Minerva, and from the look of Faust, he was doing the same. Everyone was.

"Come on up, Prince Jellal," the juggler said, holding his hand. "Are you really brave?"

The juggler was pointing at a round wooden slab, propped upright. It was attached to a stand, allowing the round contraption to be able to be spun. It looked almost like a giant, solid, wooden wheel.

Jellal stared at the contraption with wide eyes. I hid a smile as he said, "Sure!"

The juggler tied Jellal to the wheel and stuck an apple in the prince's mouth. People were now beginning to laugh.

Two jesters began to spin the wheel while the juggler got out a knife and threw it.

In that split second, I had gotten up from my chair, ready to use magic to knock that juggler down.

But the knife missed and hit the empty area beside Jellal. The wheel kept spinning.

"Calm it, Scarlet," Gajeel growled, yanking me down. "It's just an act."

I nodded and sat down stupidly.

Another knife was thrown and hit the other empty area beside Jellal. Jellal, who was still attached to the spinning wheel, looked more scared than sick.

One more knife was thrown, and this one pierced the middle of the apple. The red apple that was stuck in Jellal's mouth.

The crowd cheered as the jesters untied Jellal. Even Faust was clapping.

~ ~ ~

"You were totally scared," I teased, approaching Jellal who was sitting beside Faust. Considering Faust was still frail-looking, the king looked at me with narrowed eyes.

Jellal took a bite of his apple. "Nope."

"I'm positive."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Then why were you trembling?"

Jellal froze. Then he smiled slowly. "Hey, guys! I've got an idea!"

The room got quiet.

"How about my knight performs something for us?"