The Hunt

3~The Masked Festival

"Welcome home Captain Fullbuster," a young man stood at the gates of the palace, awaiting the arrival of the captain, he was a handsome young man, about the same age, he had snow white hair and was talk with pale skin.

"No need for the grand welcoming Lyon, you know we're old friends," Gray said, and dragged his childhood friend into a hug, as they made their way through the palace they started a typical conversation and didn't hesitate to talk about the past, the two handsome men were trained under the same drill sergeant when entering the army, they were the top of their class, Lyon placed first just a bit above Gray, "Paris has certainty changed, for the worst I mean, I never imagined this would happen while I was gone."

"Unfortunately so," Lyon said disappointingly, "the King got a new adviser, General Klenz, he's sick and twisted, not to mention power hungry," Lyon said, the obvious distaste for the man evident in the back of his throat, "now instead of hunting down the real criminals we are forced to go after gypsies who are suspected of theft, I can't believe my men and I are subjected to this king of work, it sickens me," he said.

Gray nodded, he didn't how this could happen, when he was younger the gypsies brought life to the streets of Paris, they could make any shallow alley way a place of sunshine and excitement, now they were being forced into holes and dungeons, forced to hide in order to save themselves.

"Anyway, enough of this doom and gloom," Lyon said, a smile gracing his face, "you came to Paris in the light of its time," he said, "the gypsies perform their yearly festivities today, its quite grand, ever since I came back its been the highlight of the year for me," he said with glee stretching across his face, "I implore you to go," he insisted.

"Well if you say its good then it must be," Gray said, they were once rivals, so it was quite the miracle that they acted more like brothers now.

Gray and Lyon came to the General's quarters, "General Gildarts, I have brought Captain Gray Fullbuster, straight from the war," Lyon announced.

"Hey man, what's up?" Gray was confused by Gildart's...openness.

He was taken aback for the first time ever since joining the army, "um...hello sir," he said politely.

"Don't waste formalities kid I don't care about the "sirs" or "misters"," Gildarts said, quite drunk.

"Of course," Gray said.

"Anyways the king wants the two of you to attend the prince, they're waiting for you in the throne room," he said, "my guess is that he wants you to escort the prince to the parade, I would do the same thing, especially after the stunt he pulled."

"I don't understand," Gray said, "what happened?"

Lyon stepped in before Gildarts was going blow his head off for explaining the situation the tenth time, "I'll explain it to him on the way there, so don't worry about it," he said.

They walked down the hallway towards the throne where the King and Prince were waiting for them, "so yesterday the Prince and his Fiancée were out in the city, and he abandoned her in pursuit of another woman, and not just any woman, a gypsy, you could bet that didn't make the King happy," he said.

"What the heck was going through his head?" Gray asked.

"Well we don't know, Prince Jellal has always been an odd ball," Lyon stated, "his father is still trying to whip him into shape."

Gray could care less about the Prince, in fact the thoughts surround his head were, I left the army for this? I never thought I would be stuck with babysitting.

Once they arrived they were welcomed glares from the father and son. Jellal did not look pleased with his escorts.

"Today is a special day, so make sure you save face and act like a real Prince, and this time do NOT abandon Lady Lucille," he said strictly, "do you understand?"