The Queen And The Princess

Chapter 11

**Fairy Tail World POV...**

"Ooooiii! Where's Erza?!" Natsu's voice boomed through the guild, the impatience in his tone impossible to miss. His pink hair was wild as always, and his roguish grin was gone, replaced by frustration. He stormed back and forth like a caged animal, desperate to locate the formidable older sister figure he idolized. "ARRGH, WHERE'S ERZA?!"

"NATSU, SHUT UP!" shouted Lucy and Levy in perfect unison. Their patience had worn thin, and they shared a look of mutual exhaustion. Natsu had been at it for hours, yelling, complaining, and generally being a nuisance.

*I'm really going to lose it,* Lucy thought, rubbing her temples to ward off a headache. Natsu's relentless shouting had been going on for the past two hours, and her nerves were starting to fray.

"Natsu, for the last time—Erza is in another world!" Levy reminded him, her voice tinged with mild exasperation as she thumbed through her latest pile of books. The soft flutter of pages barely registered against Natsu's constant groaning.

"Ughh..." Natsu plopped down into a chair, slumping forward dramatically. He had been sticking close to Lucy and Levy for days, hoping for some miracle or magical breakthrough that would bring Erza back. So far, they had nothing, and his restlessness was becoming unbearable.

The tense atmosphere was briefly broken by a soft, melodic voice. "Hey, everyone! I brought some refreshments!" Mirajane's entrance was as calming as ever, her white hair cascading like a silver waterfall as she approached the group, a warm smile on her face. She carried a tray of drinks, and her gentle presence seemed to soothe the room.

"Any luck finding Erza yet?" Mirajane asked, her tone light and hopeful as she handed out drinks.

"No, not yet..." Lucy muttered, sounding completely drained. Dark circles under her eyes betrayed the long nights of searching for answers. She accepted the drink with a weak smile, barely able to summon the energy to be polite.

Levy, similarly exhausted, took her drink and sipped it gratefully. "Thanks, Mirajane," she said, offering a tired but appreciative smile. Lucy nodded in agreement, too worn out to say much more than that.

"Yahhh, thanks, Mira," Natsu added, though his words were accompanied by a yawn. He squeezed his eyes shut, then snapped them open, trying and failing to stay alert. He looked like he'd been through a battle himself, though all he'd done was complain.

Lucy turned her gaze toward Natsu, eyes glazed with disbelief. *How is this idiot tired?* she wondered. *All he's done is whine and nap this whole time.* She sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping.

Levy caught the sigh and couldn't help but giggle, the sound soft and almost contagious. The sight of Lucy's frustration paired with Natsu's exaggerated weariness was just too much.

Mirajane, ever observant, smiled at the three of them. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find her soon," she said, her voice warm with encouragement, though none of them could deny the tension that hung over the group like a dark cloud.

Still, the drinks and Mirajane's presence provided a small moment of comfort, like a break in the storm. But in the back of their minds, the question lingered—*Where was Erza, and how would they ever bring her home?*

**Erza's POV**

One day later... 

The air was thick with tension as Erza Scarlet crouched behind a cluster of boulders, her heart racing. Yona, Hak, and the rest of their group were gathered around, faces grim and focused. They had barely escaped the notice of Soo-Won's men, who were patrolling the area, intent on inspecting the Wind Tribe.

"They'll be here soon," Hak whispered, his eyes scanning the surrounding terrain for any sign of movement. "We can't stay here for long."

Yona's voice trembled slightly. "What if they find us? They're looking for you, Erza."

"I won't let that happen," Erza replied firmly, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword. "We need to find a way to counter Soo-Won's forces. If we can rally the Wind Tribe, we might stand a chance."

Just then, a rustling in the nearby brush broke her concentration. The sound of boots crunching through the underbrush carried on the wind, and Erza felt a surge of adrenaline mixed with focus. She was strong, far stronger than the men they were hiding from, but she knew caution was key. One misstep could put everyone at risk.

"Over there!" one of Soo-Won's men shouted, his voice carrying through the air.

"Run!" Erza commanded, motioning for the group to move. They darted away from their hiding spot, weaving through the trees, the underbrush snapping beneath their feet.

As they fled deeper into the forest, Erza couldn't help but feel the thrill of battle rising within her. The sounds of their pursuers grew louder, and she knew they had to buy time for the others to escape.

"Yona, take the others to the river!" she shouted, glancing back to see the shadows of Soo-Won's men drawing nearer. "I'll hold them off!"

"Erza, no!" Yona protested, her eyes wide with concern.

"Just go!" Erza insisted, her voice steely with determination. She spun around to face the approaching danger, feeling the rush of battle awaken her senses.

As the men broke through the trees, a grin split Erza's face. "You picked the wrong fight!" she called out, her sword gleaming in the dappled sunlight.

The first bandit lunged at her with a dagger, but Erza was quicker. She sidestepped, bringing her sword down in a swift arc that sent the man sprawling to the ground, his weapon clattering away.

Two more men rushed her, brandishing swords. Erza stood her ground, confident and resolute. With a graceful pivot, she dodged their strikes and countered with a powerful sweep of her blade, disarming one of them and sending him tumbling into the underbrush.

The remaining bandit hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes. "Who are you?" he stammered, backing away.

"I am Erza Scarlet, and I will not let you harm my friends!" she declared, her voice ringing with authority. With a fierce roar, she charged at him, her sword a flash of red in the forest.

The clash of metal rang through the air as she engaged the last bandit, their blades colliding in a flurry of sparks. Erza moved with precision and grace, each strike executed with purpose. She could feel the adrenaline fueling her strength as she unleashed a series of blows, pushing the bandit back until he stumbled over a root, losing his balance.

In that moment of vulnerability, Erza seized the opportunity. "This ends now!" she shouted, driving her sword toward him, stopping just inches from his throat. "Leave this place and warn Soo-Won that we will not fall so easily."

The bandit nodded, eyes wide with fear, scrambling to his feet and running back the way he had come. Erza watched him go, her breath coming in heavy gasps.

With a quick glance over her shoulder, she made sure the coast was clear. "Yona!" she called, heart racing. "They're gone! We need to regroup!"

As her friends re-emerged from the foliage, relief washed over her. "You did it, Erza!" Yona exclaimed, rushing to her side, eyes shining with admiration.

Erza allowed herself a small smile, though the reality of their situation was still grim. "This is just the beginning. We need to gather our strength and plan our next move against Soo-Won."

With a newfound sense of purpose, Erza knew they would face whatever came next together. The fight for their freedom, and Yona's kingdom had just begun.

TBC

Author Note: Heyyy guys, it's been a minute (okay, more like 4 years, oops)! Just got back from my little world tour—only took forever! This might feel a bit rushed, but I'm determined to wrap up this story ASAP. Can't leave you hanging any longer, right? Hehe! <3