Sugar & Spice | jerza

Of Pawns & Peasants

The tidy villages of the pawns created a precise border at the edge of Chess. The grass here was mostly wilted, and the people appeared to be worn-out and aged with grief. An exquisite bonfire stood in the middle of the village, casting shadows across the dirt paths.

"They look so sad," Erza commented. "Chess is nothing like Hearts." She gazed down at her rumpled, white shirt and trousers once more.

"Hearts is more...imaginary while Chess is realistic. There's nothing happy about that."

"And a sick queen," Erza replied. "How sick is the queen?"

Jellal sighed and stopped walking. "She's not sick as much as she is weak. She hardly has the energy to stay awake."

"Maybe true love's kiss will wake her up," she murmured. 

Jellal cast her a strange look. "Yeah. That'll work as much as true love's kiss make you normal." Erza elbowed him, causing the boy to burst out laughing.

"Jellal!" a voice called. "What're you doing here in pawn country?"

"Laxus!" Jellal yelled back, jogging forward to meet the blonde-haired boy who awaited him. "How's it going?" Erza ran to catch up with him. Her shoes were on the verge of falling apart. She glared at Jellal's magical shoes enviously.

"The queen is getting worse," he said gravely. He looked at Erza with little interest. "Looks like a pawn has grown awfully attached to you." Laxus paused. "Either that or...is she the replacement?"

"Temporary replacement," Erza corrected.

"You look exhausted," Laxus observed, patting the other boy's arm. "I can take you guys as far as the border of Red. My house is there, and you two can rest before you enter Red territory."

"We have to keep moving," Jellal said. "Thanks for the offer, though."

"But don't you want to see Mira- I mean the queen-" He stopped suddenly, flushing with embarrassment. 

"Laxus Dreyar," Jellal began, his lips flickering into a slight smile. "I have two questions. One- ever since when have you started calling the queen by her first name. And two- 

"-doesn't the queen live in her palace?" Erza continued, eyes flashing with amusement. "Which is in the center of White territory so-"

"-what in Fiore is she doing at your house?" the blue-haired boy finished.

"I'm her caretaker as of now," Laxus spluttered. 

"I don't know, man. Sheltering the queen right on the border isn't safe."

"Well, leaving her in a palace with a bunch of good for nothing knights and bishops isn't safe either," he argued.

"He's a rook too?" Erza whispered.

"Yes, and a heck of a better one than Jellal," Laxus agreed, puffing his chest out with pride.

"Of course," Jellal retorted. Smiling smugly, he said, "That's why you got that scar, right? A measly Red pawn managed to-"

"Point taken," he grunted, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.

"Jokes aside, we should get going."

~ ~ ~

Unlike Lucy and Gray's cozy, unkempt home, Laxus' place had the build of an insane asylum. Unnaturally bright fluorescent lights, white-washed walls- it was nothing at all like the magical atmosphere Erza had experienced so far in Fiore. It felt more like the real world.

Speaking of the real world, where on the map was Fiore? Or more importantly, what was Fiore? Erza had been too fearful to ask Jellal or any of the Fioran residents. She was afraid this was a dream, and the instant she awoke, all would be lost. She spared a look at Jellal and felt a twinge of regret. This couldn't be a dream..it couldn't...

"Bathroom's down the hall," Laxus said, shrugging his shoulder casually. "Snacks in the fridge. Mira's upstairs if you want to see her."

Erza could tell it took a lot of effort on Jellal's behalf to not make a suggestive remark.

"Hungry?" he asked. She shook her head. "Come on, then. Let's go see Queen Strauss."

They climbed the steep stairs up to the second floor where plush carpeting lined the halls. Glass windows took up most of the walls, but a single bedroom was tucked away, almost hidden, at the end.

After knocking softly, Jellal and Erza entered.

Mira Jane wasn't old, yet her hair was a bright white, and her blue eyes looked weary with age. She looked up, eager, but upon realizing they were not Laxus, her expression dimmed.

"Your Highness," he said, taking her hand and gently pressing a kiss on her knuckles. Erza noticed her skin was dry and thin, like parchment paper. 

"Is this the girl?"

Jellal turned back to me. "Yes. This is Erza...?"

"Sc-" she began.

"Names are precious, Erza. Think wisely."

Scarlet was not her last name, Erza knew that very well. She had lied to Wendy. She knew better than to give her last name to strangers.

"Scarlet," Erza finished.

"Scarlet," Mira murmured. "How fitting. Are you ready to be the Red Queen?"

If it meant getting home, then yes, she was. She was so very ready. But at the same time...

She shook off the thought and squared her shoulders. "I am."

"Good." Mira smiled, and it was as if she had shed a few years. She looked about Jellal's age now. "Fernandes. The quickest way through Red territory is through Aka Woods-"

Erza cringed within. She did not have good experiences with wooded areas.

"-but make sure you avoid the Red rooks. Don't get too cocky. We can't lose you. Or Erza."

"Of course."

Mira Jane's expression grew anxious. "Jellal, I need this to succeed. I need this war to stop-"

"I know, Mira," he replied, voice softening. "I will succeed."

"I'll make sure of it," Erza added. It was a silly thing for an inexperienced girl to say, but it did lift the mood of the room considerably.

Mira smiled. She leaned forward and whispered in Erza's ear, "Don't let your eyes deceive you. In other worlds, you are taught to use your head, but in Fiore, you must always, always use your heart."