400 years

56

Our rest was short. The battle started the next day at dawn-

"Lucy! I need you over here!" Wendy, knowing today would be the hardest, stayed behind.

"Right, one sec!"

I took the salve and ran to our newest injured arrival. After stopping the bleeding and bandaged him up, I sent him to the back where he could rest.

'The fighting is getting fierce.. I hope Natsu is holding up.'

While I was wishing I didn't have to wait until tonight to see him, Wendy came over.

"Good work! You should take a break."

"I'm good, thanks. Any new reports?"

"Well, it's turned out to be an all out battle at this point. That would explain the increase in injured."

"I'm guessing the enemy is giving it all they got, huh?"

Wendy nodded, "one way or another, todays battle will be the deciding factor."

"Yeah.."

'Please, everyone come back safe!!' I returned to work with that prayer in my heart.

~*~

Meanwhile, outside headquarters—

"Well, if it isn't my disposable daughter. And her murderer of a husband."

"Irene, that explains why Erza and I were having trouble with these troops. You were the one commanding them."

"Just our luck. I happen to you owe you a bit of pay back, 'Mother'."

West of the frontlines, mother and daughter rival generals, and their men were posturing and ready to fight.

......

On the southern end of the field, Sting, Rogue, and Grey exchanged ill-humored looks.

"Look, Sting. It's a mangy dog coming to play."

"Yes, with an army like that behind him, he's hard to miss."

A troop of soldiers, clad in silver, raced across the plains to engage with them.

"Ah, look Jackel, it's Natsu's pet monkeys." Lord Silver, grinned as his forces surrounded Rogue and Sting.

"Captain Juvia, cut them down."

"Right."

Grey stands silent though, there's something about this 'Lord Silver' that's an eerie resemblance to- "D-Dad?" Grey's whisper to himself goes unnoticed to the others..

.....

"Lily, a report has came. Sting and his group have encountered lord Silver in the south."

"Thank you, Romeo. I'll have word sent to Lord Natsu. Hm, so Silver has joined too.."

Lily, Gajeel, and Romeo, along with their troops were stationed at the rear of the battle. While handling logistics and operations for the whole army.

.......

"Acnologia, has Natsu shown yet?"

"No, but we have information that he's leading his men this way."

Zeref, until now has hidden in the shadows. Patiently awaiting his little brother. The element of surprise..

Using Acnologia as his look out, Zeref readies his plan in secret. He aims to restart the world, one without magic. To rid himself of the curse that plagues his being.

'Don't keep me waiting, little brother.'

Natsu engulfed in his own flames, gradually pushes back the against the enemy's front lines.

~*~

'Shoo, it's night already..'

Having handled the wounded for now, I stepped outside of headquarters for a small break. I'd worked from sunrise to sunset, and I was exhausted to say the least. 'It's quiet, I guess the battle isn't over yet..'

I stood, I was far too nervous to sit. 'Was Natsu ok? Surly if something bad happened their'd be a report..'

"Lucy! There you are." Wendy ducked out of headquarters. "There's been a report!"

'Finally!' "What does it say?"

"He's reached the castle, he's been joined by the others. They've got the castle surrounded."

"That's great news!" I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in.

"They're preparing a siege."

I felt a twinge in the pit of my stomach. "So they won't be returning tonight?"

"No.. On another note, I'm heading to the front with supplies. So, you're charge while I'm gone."

"Got it, be careful!"

Once Wendy had walked away, I trudged back to headquarters. Concern tugging at my chest.