~Natsu~ 

When I was explained the unknown who tried to attack and nearly destroyed the new shield was Lucy's cousin I was in some shock. I was explained we was to go see Lucy's other family and the past king of humans, Zeref. I was worried of a repeat happening about Luke, that nearly killed Lucy before hand. Once outside Lucy and Brandish were walking as Lucy wiped away a tear smiling. "I won't let that taint get you understood" Brandish spoke smiling toward Lucy as they didn't noticed me nor Wendy. 

"You always were so sure about things Brandish" Lucy only whispered. "Then you should remember everything I am sure on is right" Brandish replied smirking as Lucy laughed slightly. Wendy soon called them both other as they turn their heads as I smiled toward them. Lucy was struggling. It was easy to see she was. She was fighting something that had a unknown cure. "So how long will this trip be?" Wendy asked slightly as she joined Lucy and Gray when they went on a trip that ended up saving Ur, Gray's step-mother.

"The camp for the twelve ain't far matters how long Lucy wants to stay" Brandish answered as Lucy rubbed the back of her neck. "You guys all came to Fiore?" Lucy asked as Brandish gave Lucy a 'duh' face. "August used a spell seeing you in the blasted crystal so we all rushed here on order of King Zeref who even came along" Brandish soon explained as Lucy was staring at her in pure shock. "Humans and every race out there basically owes you and your mother Lucy, don't forget that" Brandish then added.

"That was years ago, I already told Zeref and the others they didn't have to" Lucy then spoke as Wendy giggled slightly getting the two in front of us to turn their heads. "Lucy you say that but look very excited" Wendy pointed out as I nodded in agreement as Lucy smiled slightly. "Guess I am to see Grandfather again along with Irene and Zeref" Lucy spoke as Brandish hugged Lucy's arm smirking like crazy. "Larcade too ain't it?" Brandish asked as Lucy's face was turning red.

"B-Brandish shut up" Lucy snapped as Brandish gave a small creepy laugh. "You both basically were dating 556 years ago" Brandish spoke as I felt rage building up inside of me out no where. I was jealous? What the hell? "At lest your not as bad as Dimaria is at teasing" Lucy mumbled as Brandish giggled smiling. We all headed toward the East entrance where a truck was being made ready. "It will be most likely nightfall when we reach the camp" Brandish spoke as I saw Lucy was thinking about something.

"So how many people are fully at the camp?" I asked as Brandish was muttering numbers under her breath counting as she turned her head to me. "Around twenty, the King needs guards to be kept safe so we brought seven guards to help out" Brandish answered as I nodded as Lucy had zoned out in thought. Something was bugging her. Brandish had noticed but looked away. "Let her think for a bit, only she can fight a taint wing" Brandish spoke sounding worried as Wendy moved fast to stand next to Brandish.

"Can you tell us more about tainted wings?" Wendy asked sounding worried also as I kept quiet to listen. Brandish turned her head to Lucy who had her eyes closed walking with her hands behind her back. "Taint wings are basically a dark curse but ten times more powerful, the wings take the curse hoping to protect the rest of the body but the curse evolved as that used to work. Now once one is tainted they no matter what one day turn into what Luke was" Brandish answered fear in her eyes.

I was in shock so was Wendy. "None of you welders are near getting the curing spells, Eclair can no longer do them, Mavis doesn't know what to do so our last hopes are that lover or King Zeref. King Zeref knows everything about dark magic he has lived for so many years longer than just a mare 556" Brandish soon added as Wendy looked toward Lucy worried. "If I knew the burnt creep in the crystal was Luke I would of went and blew it up to free her" Brandish soon whispered with guilt.

"Lucy wanted to fight him in there" I spoke as she was in some shock as we reach the truck as Brandish tickled Lucy's side snapping her out of thought as she was laughing, begging Brandish to stop. When Brandish did stop Lucy's eyes had watered from how much she was laughing. "What was you in thought about?" Brandish asked putting her hands on her hips as Lucy got up calming herself as she took a breath. "Luke and the other old welders" Lucy had answered getting me, Wendy and Brandish to go quiet.

"The others had the curse other than Luke and Christen, Eclair hasn't used her wings once since she got back so I worry she has a taint also but is keeping quiet" Lucy soon explained her thoughts as Brandish grabbed her hands. "We will find a way, I am sure the King knows something if not him Grandpa will" Brandish spoke as Lucy smiled toward her. "Always so sure" Lucy whispered. "You used to be you know, so sure light could win the war, so sure someday the great Dragneel family would rise up again and help kill Acnologia once and for all" Brandish then spoke shocking me.

Lucy laughed slightly. "Yes I was an idiot child" Lucy whispered worrying me, Wendy and Brandish as Lucy took a deep breath. "Shall we get going, Brandish will need to be up front and I still dunno how to drive" Lucy looked toward me smiling as I nodded. "Lucky I can" I then spoke as Levy was at the truck waiting for us. "You lot be safe alright? I have everything Master asked for ready including food and water packs" Levy spoke as Wendy hugged her. "We will be fine Levy" I spoke as she nodded.

"Take as many of those dark freaks out while you guys are out there" Levy then spoke as Lucy smirked. "Understood, any Rank B or higher and they are gone" Lucy replied getting Levy to smile as Wendy pulled away. Brandish got in the front passenger side, I got in the driver seat, Lucy and Wendy got in the back. Levy gave the ok sign as the gates started to open. 'Lucy you are sure you can handle this?' Gust's voice soon asked as all three weapons had been quiet ever since they was around Brandish.

I had only just noticed. "What you mean Gust?" Lucy asked as Brandish was looking out the window as I started up the truck and we rolled out soon as the gate was open. 'Gust means with being tainted, we do not want you in pain, we care for you' Flames answered before Gust could even reply as Lucy smiled. "I am fine, I got the training if this ever happened" Lucy replied as Flames sighed as Zodiacs was giving of the clash of keys as Lucy looked slightly annoyed. 'Zodiacs is right, that training rarely worked' Gust nearly shouted.

"I will be fine just leave it at that for now" Lucy then spoke as Brandish was giving me directions and by the time she said, nightfall we was outside a small lookout post with a women with short blonde hair and brown eyes pointing a giant golden sword toward the truck outside the entrance. She was wearing a simple brown bandeau, with the upper edge embroidered with a flowery, white lace. She also was wearing a loose, pin-striped Capri pants, the ends of the legs tightening around her calves. 

The hems of the legs were decorated with dark piping. Her left forearm was covered by a tight, dark bracer with a wing-like ornament attached to it beneath her elbow. Her right arm was encased in golden armor. While the part covering her upper arm and shoulder is plated, the rest takes the form of a simple golden gauntlet. Brandish got out the truck getting the blonde to stand down. "Dimaria, Lucy is in that truck with her own guards let them through" Brandish ordered as Dimaria gave an annoyed 'tisk' while smiling.

"OPEN IT UP" this Dimaria shouted as the sword in her hands vanished as I looked in the reverse mirror to see Lucy smiling excited as Wendy was now in deep thought. The doors to the outpost opened as we drove inside Dimaria and Brandish walked inside as many people were in tents watching out as I got out first then Wendy and Lucy. "MISS LUCY!" Some guards shouted as Lucy smiled waving. "Ello everyone" Lucy nearly shouted as Dimaria rushed over hugging Lucy and nearly pushed her over as Brandish now her no emotion around her.

I was in shock. "Dimaria thank god I need your help" Lucy spoke as Dimaria pulled away smirking. "What can the great god of time do for you My Lady?" Dimaria asked in a posh tone getting Lucy to giggle as she got Ultear's headband white rag out of the Zodiacs pouch and passed it to Dimaria who was looking toward it, her brown eyes glowing. "Powerful time sacrifice magic. Chronos take a look" Dimaria spoke taking the headband as the gauntlet on her arm started to glow. Brandish walked into a tent as being the son of a dragon it was handy. 

I was able to hear anything as many voices were around. Many talking about how happy they were Lucy was alive and well. I heard Brandish calming Magnolia City was to never be harmed and explained it was Lucy's home as a woman's voice came along demanding that city becomes part of her 'territory'. "I wonder how long this was out here" Wendy whispered as Dimaria looked toward Lucy. "Any new battle stories, we can trade, so many Type Zeros around now it is good fun using them for sport" Dimaria spoke.

That shocked me in honest truth as Lucy laughed. "I stopped the whole world from changing into pure darkness to where Brandish, me and so many would of died" Lucy spoke, talking about the battle with Luke as Dimaria looked excited. "I wanna hear!" she spoke like a child as Lucy giggled and had a sad look. "The attacker was Luke" Lucy informed her as Dimaria froze up. "EH? WHERE IS THE CREEP I AM GOD DAMN CHOPPING OFF HIS DICK!" Dimaria shouted in pure rage as Lucy burst into laughter.

"Little extreme ain't it?" Wendy asked rubbing the back of her neck as Dimaria shook her head. "Like hell, he must of hurt our Lucy like hell I will let anyone get away with that, then again gonna be a battle to who gets to the creep first" Dimaria spoke as Lucy calmed herself down. "I haven't laughed so much in so long" Lucy spoke as Dimaria looked toward her. "You turned into a soldier at a young age, rushing off to war back then was the last time most of us saw you" Dimaria spoke. 

"Come with me, everyone is resting tomorrow we speak stories of fights I see Flames here meaning this dude has to have some good fight stories" Dimaria looked toward me. "And if I don't?" I asked rubbing the back of my neck. "Then I am taking you hunting, we will all have some fun could be training too" Dimaria walked ahead toward a tent as me, Lucy and Wendy followed. We was being watched but I saw that coming. This was their outpost along with me and Wendy being unknowns.

They had their King here, we only got in without trouble thanks to Lucy knowing them all. "I hope you can open up to me like you do with Brandish though Lucy" Dimaria spoke putting her forehead onto Lucy's shocking her slightly. "You are my fellow blonde sista" Dimaria spoke with her own toothy grin as Lucy soon smiled. "I am unsure on how to reply to that" Lucy whispered as Dimaria opened her eyes keeping the grin on her face. "It to get you to think, as long as you trust these two so will most of us, pinkie keep her safe for me" Dimaria spoke.

"It's salmon not pink" I spoke as she rolled her eyes slightly. Wendy sighed shaking her head. "Talk in the morning" Dimaria headed out as Lucy was still smiling as she put a hand on her chest. "I do hope they didn't cause to much trouble for the city" Lucy spoke looking toward me and Wendy. "Only Brandish" I informed her as Lucy nodded. "Mavis would of hated to fight Zeref, both were lovers" Lucy spoke winking toward me and Wendy as I coughed in shock as Wendy was looking toward Lucy with widen eyes.

"First Master has a lover?" Wendy asked as Lucy nodded. "King Zeref, both been close longer than I have been born" Lucy answered while she was nodding. First Master was going to hate her for telling but had some ammo if I ever needed something off her.