Love At War | JeRza

Chapter Twenty-two

Natsu's P.O.V.
That's right. Lucy and I are dating. You'd think I was a wimp and couldn't ask her out! Well in fact, I didn't ask her out! Mira set us up on our first date a couple of years ago. She's like the shipping goddess. She's the one who made Juvia fall in love with Gray. She still hasn't found someone compatible for Erza. No one who reaches Erza's expectations. That's gonna be hard to do, huh?

She would talk to Larcade about Erza and everything. I still think it's weird. Even if Erza liked him, he's much older and I'm his uncle. MEGA WEIRD! Mirajane went to hell and back looking for someone for Erza. It's hilarious! But I know Erza has found someone by now. Jellal.

He reaches her expectations; stylish, strong, loyal, kind, caring, strong, clean, hot, responsible, knows how to have fun, brave, cool, charming, funny, has a sense of humor, resourceful, strong, respectful, did I mention strong?

We are currently looking for Jellal and Erza. Mira told us that they would be in Fiore's forest before they left. I tug at Lucy's sleeve, getting her attention. I point to the forest, Happy in my hand, "I know," she nods. She looks down at her clothes, "but, uh, we don't have disguises."

"You can just go back to the palace." Gajeel suggests. Lucy shrugs and looks up. She points at Acnologia who is guarding the way to the palace. Gajeel looks at the mighty dragon and sighs, "oh, never mind." Suddenly, a short girl runs to Acnologia.

She has a flat chest and blue hair. It's Levy. "LEVY!" I call. I run to her but Gray grabs my scarf. I begin choking as he pulls me to his face. I look up at him as he frown at me, "aw, c'mon, Gray! It's Levy, she won't tell anyone."

"Natsu's right." Meredy nods. "But first we need to ask Erza and Jellal if we can tell her. In my opinion we already have many people on the job but she's very, very smart. She'll be useful. Plus, we have Mirajane now, too." She explains. I sigh and slump my shoulders.

"What're w-we gonna d-do?" Wendy says through tears, her voice trembling. Wendy has been shaking and pulling her hair. There is something very, very wrong with her. I have a feeling that she's not telling the whole truth. She's leaving something out. I just know it. "If we don't get the disguises and sneak in the forest, i-it's over!"

"We'll go at night." Laxus suggests, comforting the young dragon slayer. He places his hand on her shoulder, "the war should have calmed down by then. Now all we have to do it wait.. Wait for a long, long, long, long time." Sting and I groan.

"This isn't fair!" Juvia slumps her shoulders and slowly walks back onto the bloody battlefield, "we might as well fight by our comrades."

"Then we shouldn't fight at all." I said. Everyone stares at me in shock and awkwardness. My cheeks turn red, "what? We're all comerads, right? Fiore and Dragnof are not supposed to be like this... I was just thinking because we're getting along, maybe all of Fiore are our comrades."

"Only Jellal, Laxus, Sting, Rogue, Gajeel, and Wendy are, Natsu," Lucy hugs Happy for warmth and says softly, "if others find out what we've been doing.. Who knows if we'll even live to tell the tale." My eyes widen. Is Lucy.. Giving up hope on the bond between Fiore and Dragnof!? "You can't trust everyone."

"Are you crazy!?" I exclaim. Ultear shushes me but I keep going, "Lucy, are you losing hope?" She looks up at me with a scared look on her face. I sit down in shock. I'm too shocked for words. She's usually the optimist. But I guess an optimist can lose all hope. "Lucy.. Gray.. Remember when we fought on Stella's side?"

They nod, not looking up at me. "This old man told me something. Remember? He had an eyepatch and everything. He told me his name was Precht, the second master of a guild. He told me that not everything lasts forever and that feeling fear is okay. He told me that you'll never go anywhere if you don't believe in yourself. He told me this before he died. His words keep me going. You guys keep me going.. The thought of friends possibly in harms way hurts me. So we can't give up. We have to try, we never give up!"