Irene Pov

Bells started to ring in the capital and I opened my eyes slowly being met with the rays of the morning sun going up over the mountains. I stretched my arms and turned around being met with the sight of my tiny self and Gildarts on the other side on the giant bed. 

I smiled overjoyed from last night. The dance, the kiss. All I felt was fireworks within me, from the moment our lips met to the dance at the bonfire it felt like a fairy tale to me. I slowly rose up from the bed and walked over to the dresser my clothes are in. Today my father told me I'd be going out on a hunting trip and the church wont hand out the book until tomorrow. The longer we stayed here the worse it would be. I shook my head at our meaningless tries to stay hidden and accidentally got ourselves into the spotlight. What I had to wear on the hunting trip was a jacket and relatively snug pants who didn't make a lot of noise.

The papers on my younger selves desk caught my attention and I took a look at them. I took one into my hand and read it. Papers about enchantments, alchemy and the theory of switching bodies by enchanting yourself into the other person all came from my young naive mind. I giggle escaped my lips. My mother only gave it an amused smile back then. But I proved her wrong. My first enchantment was in fact getting the properties of a rock onto a doll. How I tested it? I chucked it onto the helmet of one of the knights. 

That experiment still makes me laugh to this day. I asked the knight to help me and when I had the desired result he laid on the ground from the hit. I did help him back up and apologized.

I walked to the open window with the paper in hand casually reading it down. Whenever I wasn't playing or had my lessons I'd be in my room studying my magic. I took a glance outside and the whole sky was covered in clouds, not letting any sun through. Maybe it was going to rain today too.

"What are you doing with my stuff." A voice squeaked out and I turned to see her stand there near the desk glaring at me. I waved the papers lazily on my hand before stepping closer to her. "Reading these and honestly looking back my writing looks like from a chicken." I replied and she sulked immediately. I rolled my eyes at her reaction. Was I really that much of a crybaby? "Hey don't take it negatively, you'll get better at it." I replied silently and she huffed before storming away into the walk in dresser. I shook my head slowly not believing how much trouble a child can do. I'd probably be able to deal with it a lot better if I had raised Erza. "Morning my scarlet." I heard a voice behind me and I gasped lightly as his hands touched my waist. I let the papers fall down on the desk and turned around to meet him already fully dressed. 

His gaze was deep and piercing his eyes full of longing to me. His breath fanned my lips while his right hand gently moved over the crook of my neck taking a strand of hair between his fingers. How much I've waited for the longing affectionate touch of a man. "I've missed this." I whispered and his lips tugged upwards. 

All I could do was just stare at him. I wanted to do nothing more then this for the moment. He leaned forwards and gave me a gentle kiss on my lips. "Your mother" He trailed and looked towards my right hand touching my ring finger. "She told me marriage in Dragnof has no negatives." He stated and made a step back.

He looked genuinely curious but I wanted to know so much more about him too. Everything we ever talked about was from my side never his. The law in Dragnof was in favor of staying married and the government which means the royal family made sure there were no negatives to it. I tapped with my finger on my chin thinking about it before it lit up in me and everything revealed to me. "We have tax reduction for married people and the children are assured a basic free education. The government has no say in splitting the family but we do have with agreement of the church created laws which prevent marriages that are forced or with relatives or with more then one man and woman. Its all to protect our culture, people and the land. Everyone who's against it is seen as an enemy." I replied and he kept listening to me. 

But there was a big negative to all this brightness, the darkness everyone was afraid off. My mother, she had an iron fist in what the peoples behavior should be in relationships. If you were one of those who slept around chances are you wouldn't survive once she found out. She despised promiscuity and those who tried to defend it were all met with the same reaction by her. 

A blade appearing in her hand known as the. Dragons blade Dalmiatos. Forged of the bones from an Iron dragon and tempered in its blood. It measured about 6 feet in length with a red and white handle. Its power was enough to slice a whole continent in half with ease. Her brutality was also why many feared her presence. She only punished offenders and how did she know it. She could read the peoples memories as it was her magic next to enchant. 

That blade to this day was untouched by me. I have it ever since the days of Dragnofs downfall in my requip space. I could never summon it. So strength was not the way to go.

I walked out the window pulling him with me to the balcony. I gently grasped his hand looking up at him. "Gildarts I want to know more about you, more about what you did where you are from and your family." I stated and he rolled his eyes at me with a light scoff. His expression seemed hurt about my sudden push. "There isn't much about me Irene, really." He replied and averted his eyes. "I've never known my father and my mother was an alcoholic, which is why Cana is one too. I was always in trouble for something and never had a father who I could look up to that's when I met Makarov who got me on my feet and beat all the negatives out of me until I understood it. After that I met Cornelia and had Cana." He added and then looked down painfully.  "I left her one day going on a job and never returned. Our time wasn't always easy and calm but I loved her." He kept silent for a moment. I knew I would never be able to fill that void of the first love he had. All those women he had slept with were likely all after Cornelia's death to cope with it.

I pulled him closer by his head and made it rest on my chest. I gently caressed his hair. "Its all okey Gildarts. You couldn't do anything about it, you didn't know." I whispered and he nodded. "I'll help you with it." I stated and I felt my shirt getting a little wet. "Thanks, you are really caring." He replied and I smiled joyful at him. 

I picked the sweater which was the last piece I had to wear as it is quite chilly at this time of the year in this kingdom. "Lets head down too. My smaller self probably already ran down to it." I stated and he nodded.

My tenth birthday was going to be celebrated for 3 days and in these three days the whole kingdom was invited to it. Today was a day for just me. Going on my first hunting trip with my father and mother as a family together. My father even wanted Cana and Y/n to come along as they could help with it.

Y/n Pov

The smell of rain laid in the air already in the morning. I couldn't sleep well this night but knowing I had the love of my life right next to me eased it. "You seem worried?" She stated and I nodded slowly while I kept looking out the window of the room the queen had given us in her palace. Bill was right in front of me looking out too.

I kept thinking about last night. We both were looking at each other with a desire we never felt and she was nervously pondering on the idea of us two. But then she shook her head and told me the words which she wanted to say. She wanted to wait a bit not sure if here was the right moment for us.

"I'm just thinking about last night." I replied and she hugged me gently from the back. "I'm glad I mean so much to you." She whispered and I chuckled. I placed my hand on hers. Why wouldn't you? I thought to myself. I turned around and held her hand gently. She picked Bill up with one hand as it was time to meet the others in the back of the palace where a carriage waited for us.

We passed Belserion in his human form and he was dressed in a morning robe and had a coffee mug in his right hand. We both looked at him surprised. "Belserion do dragons really wear this?" I asked and I got a laugh from him. "Not really but I do like the shocked faces of the people whenever I do." He replied and then drank from his mug with his tail swinging side to side.

We reached the stables of the palace and right at the gate two carriages were standing with people all around them. "Good morning Cana and Y/n." I heard a booming voice and we got crushed into a hug from behind. We let out a panicked scream before we knew who hugged us. I could immediately feel bear pelt tickle my neck. 

"Dad, don't hurt them." A panicked voice screamed out and we turned around to face both Irene in a more warm cloth and her absolute brute of a father who was even taller then Gildarts or I. This had to do something with his magic. He was at least 2  meters high and broad as a dresser. "I just gave them a hug my little princes, nothing these two can't handle right." He stated and pat both our shoulders knocking us almost down. 

Irene walked quickly to us looking concerned placing a hand on both our shoulders gently. "I hope he didn't break any of your bones." She asked and raised an eyebrow with worry. We shook our heads. "Sorry he is like that. He's very upfront and always in a good mood." She stated and Bill looked up to him still puzzled. "Irene what did you call these little fuzzy things." Her father asked pointing to Bill and Irene smiled softly. "They are called exceeds, a magical cat breed which can fly." She replied and the king immediately jolted up. "Marvellous, do I need to throw them so they can fly?" He asked scratching his chin.

"That's a no!" Three voices screamed out. All three were from his family, Little Irene, her mother and Irene herself. "You will not throw any living things after that one time you did it to Irene." The queen yelled furious and held her daughter tightly who shook in her arms. 

A gloomy aura spread over the area and Irene looked quite depressed. "To this day I'm still afraid of heights." She murmured and then looked up to us. "Come on lets get into the carriage, one is for us and the rest is for all the camp." She exclaimed and hopped inside it. 

The carriage didn't look like any of those fancy ones, it was quite large but looked like a cheap and normal carriage with a linen cover. We opened it and Irene sat all the way at then end on a cushion. Her younger self also hopped inside right next to her with their father sitting on the front of the carriage and taking the reins. 

A second later we sat inside on opposite walls. with Gildarts at the end and Irene's mother right at my right side at the top. "How long will we take." Little Irene asked and she pulled a book out of her satchel. "About an hour we will get there once the sun is barely showing." She stated and the carriage started moving. "Oh no." Irene hissed and she quickly got uneasy just as I did. 

A/n: Chapter 39 of the time travel ark is here and the group will be going into the woods for a little alone time.