The Dragon Father

Chapter 10: To be born Great

(This is what Acnologia looks like 100% of the time. Fed up, tired, and maybe mad, but no one can tell)

It was not truly a war. Not in the way Acnologia was used to - something he found himself immensely grateful for.  Zeref was crippled in options. He'd have to figure out a way to destroy face via espionage, and while the Dark Wizard was impetuous and impatient, he was brilliant at conniving when he needed to be. Acnologia had no doubt the Dragneel was frantically drawing up a new plan, eyes that could not rest always racing and a mind that could not break on the verge of hysteria.

It would be quiet, but it would never be safe. Not while Zeref lived.

Acnologia, of course, went to Mavis almost immediately, dropping a stunned Makarov at the guild first and ordering him to remain calm and keep the possible invasion threat far from everyone's hearts. The last thing they needed was their loyal, yet spontaneous guildmates hi-jacking a boat to go to war with a country run by the Dark Wizard himself. This had to be kept a secret to control the masses, lest there be panic or worse: a war they started.

Zeref would be all too happy if they went to him. And Acnologia wasn't ready for another bloody showdown with those guildmembers - mere children, if you considered it all in the grand scheme of things - on a battlefield, meant for beasts like him and forces like Zeref.

 Makarov had agreed to keep the entire hellish scenario a secret and not another breath was spared on the matter until Acnologia reached Tenrou. He landed heavily and raced to Mavis' gravesite when she met him with a frown and a knowing question as she looked up and deciphered his distress: "What happened?"

Solemnly, he explained the meeting with Zeref, the threat of Face, and the troops reported to be lying in wait just beyond Fioran borders. She listened with a stony expression and a cold nod. Her visage eyes grew cold and he watched as her mind began to fill with strategies and questions. She took it almost too well all things considered - an apathy (or perhaps a forced callousness) taking hold of her as she pried and interrogated him for details on Zeref's motives and assets.

Two things he was lacking in knowledge of, unfortunately.

"Then we need more information, above all else." A simple request from her and he was off with a nod and an immediate understanding. He knew how such things worked, he was nothing if not a child of war and a symbol of conflict. 

He knew above all else, that preparation was the forebearer of victory.

While the dark wizard schemed, Acnologia prepared. He learned the locations of all the Face statues. There were three thousand, two hundred, and eleven pillars all told, scattered far and wide around Ishgar. Most were hidden beneath the ground, perfectly concealed unless someone was looking for them. Finding them was easy - pockets of ethernano weren't exactly subtle if you knew what to look for, but destroying them? No one would be able to get to them before someone noticed what was happening. At the least, destroying them efficiently would be no easy feat, especially when their mere presence inhibited magic usage.

But, Face being destroyed and Ishgar losing its defense was only one bad scenario. The other occurred if they had to use Face. If they went off it would be immensely catastrophic. Mavis had accepted so with a stern face. 

"Let it happen," she ordered. "If he gambles it all, we'll have to use a contingency plan."

"Which is?" he asked firmly.

She only stared at him, a certainty in her eyes that he found himself hating. She wouldn't tell him. Perhaps she knew he wouldn't like it.  Perhaps it was one of those obnoxious plans that needed him to not know about the plan (those were some of her favorites). Perhaps she didn't actually have one... No matter the reasoning he immediately began forming his contingencies.