Phoenix Burns (FairyTail)

~Chapter 20~

~Lucy's Pov~ 

The next day I was walking along the castle gardens with Erza acting as a body guard. I had Levy leave and look after the temple for me and explain I had to stay at the castle longer than planned. "I do admit the flowers here are beautiful" Erza spoke as I nodded in agreement. They was very beautiful. Zeref had flowers from everywhere and anywhere in the gardens. "I wonder will the marriage be enough to stop the slavery?" Erza soon asked sounding worried as I remembered her past.

"If anyone keeps doing both humans and demons will attack them and force them to stop" I answered as she nodded as we both soon saw Dimaria and Brandish both near the gate. I moved fast heading over with Erza following. "Yo Lucy" Dimaria waved smiling toward us. "Sorry we been picked to help the boarder line" Brandish spoke as I looked toward them worried. Most came back badly hurt. "At lest take these" I spoke making two charms of golden stars show in my hand as I offered them to the two.

"They should protect you from any dark spells, curses and of course corruption" I explained as they both smiled taking one each as Dimaria hugged me. "Worried about us huh?" Dimaria asked as I heard she slightly worried herself. I hugged back slightly tighten my grip. "Of course I am. Please come back home safe" I spoke as Brandish put her hand on my shoulder as Dimaria pulled away. "We will be back for the wedding promise" Brandish spoke as I smiled toward her before they before ran out the gate as August was by the post side making a portal along the path as they ran through it.

"They will be safe, Priestess Lucy" August spoke as I walked over to him. "Grandpa August please just call me Lucy" I begged as he smiled toward me putting his hand on my head. "Still much younger than myself you are Lucy, even if you cannot age like me" August spoke ruffling my hair as I laughed sightly. "You are much more childish since the reborns turned out being the real deal" August spoke as I froze up realizing he was right. I was much more myself again. Much more like the old me.

"I know I cannot act that way forever becoming Queen and all but I cannot help it" I spoke as August smiled even more. "Stay the way you are, that is what the people will like even more" August informed me before walking off heading toward the tower on the other side of the castle. "Who was that?" Erza soon asked as I turned to face her. "August, the head Spriggan and Zeref's most powerful general" I answered as Erza looked kinda shocked. "He may look old and slow but trust me, he is more powerful than Gildarts" I informed her.

Erza was in more shock as I walked ahead her following. "I wish I could help the corrupted some way they don't want to server Jason they are being made" I whispered as we bumped into Invel and Ajeel. Two more members of the Twelve Spriggan. "Ah Invel I was hoping to bump into you" I spoke smirking losing most emotion inside me as Erza watched the two carefully. "Oh really?" he asked looking toward me with a bored tone. "You may hate me, call me name or attack me but try and harm someone I care for and you will lose your head" I spoke harshly as he and Ajeel looked shocked.

"Out of anything I mean it, I know you have eyes to attack Gray Fullbuster and Juvia Lockser. I hear you try anything again and you shall deal with me before Lord Zeref" I spoke about to me until the air got cold and Invel grabbed my arm tightly. I felt him freezing the blood around the area. "Dude bad idea" Ajeel spoke worried stepping back as Erza had a sword in her hand aimed toward Invel. "Erza stand down" I ordered shocking her as she moved her sword back slowly. "Can't stand that humans are protected now Invel?" I asked as he was glaring toward me.

"That is enough" Zeref spoke walking over as Invel let go of my arm right away in fear as there was a red mark left there as Zeref walked over seeing it and glaring toward Invel. "Lord Zeref nothing has happened, no need to punish a weakling for that" I spoke as Invel looked in raged even more. It amused me sightly as Zeref closed his eyes. "He won't hold back if you tease Lucy" Zeref informed me. "I won't hold back if he threatens another human or someone I care for again" I replied as Zeref chuckled.

"Sounds just like you, Invel you will be going to the Dark Fairy Tribe with August to free the humans and take them to Priestess Lucy's temple is that understood?" Zeref asked as Invel replied with a 'hai' before leaving. "May I speak boldly My Future Queen?" Ajeel soon asked smirking slightly himself as I let him. "More you show you care about his targets the more he will want to hurt them, he hates you with to much passion after you beat him in the sparing ring so long ago" Ajeel then spoke. 

I smiled toward him. "May you keep an eye on him for me" I asked walking over to Ajeel putting a finger under his chin smirking. "Anything for the beautiful Priestess" he replied waling off after Invel as I turned around to see Zeref's eyes opened him looking quiet jealous as Erza was just able to hold back a shocked face. "I have nearly all you Spriggans liking me, might be a problem when we both order them around at the same time" I spoke walking over to Zeref who smiled toward me.

"We will deal with that problem when we come to it, come lets start planning the wedding" he spoke offering me his hand. I nodded taking it as we headed to the throne room.