~Lucy~ 

I was up at sunrise and was outside the tent stretching as no matter what time I slept I would always wake up the same. Sunrise. I looked up toward the sky, smiling while enjoying the view as I heard my name be called by an old friend and mother figure. "Irene" I spoke turning my head to see the women who once took me in as a daughter when trapped in a battlefield for nearly two whole months. Irene had thickly braided, bow-adorned, scarlet hair. Her two front braids have two golden ornaments near the upper sections.

She had U-shaped earrings on each ear, and had on red lipstick. Irene doned a risqué version of the typical witch's garb.Her black top had a diamond-shaped opening, exposing a portion of her breasts, as the top had a heart-shaped pattern around the borders. It extended down to the naval of her stomach where it met a large angular scar, was draped over by a dark-colored cape with a light-colored inside and two medallion gold-like ornaments, and was held together by a golden chain. Her neck had a decorated by other small cloth-based accessories, including a wide bow.

Additionally, Irene was wearing an elongated black loincloth with the symbol of the Alvarez Empire emblazoned on its front, having white borders on its edges and being connected to another cloth piece with the very same heart-shaped design as the top. She had thigh-high boots with heels that had a white coloured border near the top. She also had gloves of the same colour and design but had claw like extensions. Her black witch's hat was much larger than her head and possessed dreadlocks designs with a white fur lining near its edges.

In Irene's hands was her normal light brown staff that was the same height as her as the stop was carved into two a inwardly curved antlers. Considerably below those, the weapon began to be overlaid with brown leopard-skin spots that extends up to the antler's tips. "Lucy you have grown into a beautiful young woman" Irene spoke as I smiled toward her as I rushed over hugging her getting many around on watch to chock on air from shock along with gasp as Irene smiled and hugged back.

"I have missed everyone so much" I whispered as I looked up smiling toward her. "I heard about the taint, my Lord is checking the books with August, we will find something" Irene spoke looking toward me with worry as I pulled away from the hug and smiled even more. "There is no other way until I train the welders to be able to cure, I know that" I replied as Irene didn't like my words much as she sighed shaking her head. "You spend to much time with Eclair and Mavis, how is the old Fairy Queen, I heard she lived" Irene soon asked.

"Mavis is fine and wanting to see Zeref" I answered winking toward Irene getting her to laugh slightly. "The only person who could tease Queen Mavis or King Zeref and live you are Lucy" Irene spoke as I giggled. "They love me to much" I sang like a child as Brandish and Dimaria were coming inside as Dimaria was dragging some animals in. They must of been on a hunt. "You both are back early" Irene turned her head. "A herd was near by, mostly deer" Brandish spoke walking over as Dimaria took the set of animals she had off toward another tent.

Brandish and Dimaria were all part of the Spriggan Twelve. A powerful set of people who ruled under King Zeref to keep him and their country safe. Mostly Zeref. "I have a feeling Lord Zeref may ask you to join us to be the new 12th Spriggan Lucy" Irene soon spoke shocking me as Brandish looked excited for a second before going back to no emotion as she was on soldier mode while around the other Spriggans. "I am a welder still Irene" I spoke putting a hand on Zodiacs's pouch as Irene smiled putting a hand on my head.

"You can be both, we will need someone to keep peace between the two countries again" she replied as I smiled toward her before she removed her hand. "Larcade will want to see you" Irene soon informed me as I felt my cheeks burning up ever so slightly as Irene walked off ordering some soldiers around as Brandish moved closer to me. "Being a Spriggan is huge Lucy and God Serena was killed by Acnologia so we will help if you are to go after him" Brandish informed me as I did wonder what Spriggan was lost.

It was rare for one of them to lose or die. "It might not even happen yet" I spoke as Brandish then started to smirked slightly as I was confused as she spun me around as my eyes widen seeing Larcade, the son of King Zeref walking over toward us. Larcade had upward spiky blond hair that came as far as his shoulder blades on his back, as well as a large white cross symbol donning on his forehead. He had sharp orange eyes with an accentuated white design around the crust of them, while also possess one noticeable earring to go.

Along with that he had a tight necklace that has a circular ornament attached to it. For clothing, he wears a golden-colored kasaya that has a rectangular pattern, that was similar to Natsu's scarf, that covers one-half of his body while the other half is exposed. A white sash was also tied around the upper part of the garb that streaks to hip to go with one around his waist as well. On his left arm, he had an intricate light green tribal tattoo with a decorative armband wrapped around it. 

He also had on a dark colored Capri to go with a simple set of two-toned colored footwear. Holstered upon his back as a humongous sliver bladed cross. "Larcade" I spoke smiling once he came over as he took my hand kissing it before saying hello. My cheeks burnt up even more. Brandish smirking even more next to me. "I will leave you two" she spoke walking off as I glared toward her slightly as she mouth 'get some' toward me making me even more red. "She finally is acting the same" Larcade spoke catching my attention.

I looked toward him with a eyebrow raised my face calming down ever so slowly. Sadly too slowly. "When we found out about you being trapped in a crystal she changed as if she truly had no emotions other than bloodlust and revenge" Larcade explained as I was in some shock. Brandish rarely let anything like that get to her much. "We should not speak of drama, we have only just saw each other again" Larcade then spoke smiling making me smile as my eyebrow moved back down.

"Tell me, what have I missed?" I asked as Larcade and I started talking about how the Alvarez Empire was doing. The Alvarez Empire was Zeref's country and was very powerful so long ago and from what I learnt throughout the morning it had gotten more powerful. Around noon Natsu and Wendy had joined us outside as I smiled toward them. "Wendy, Natsu meet Larcade the Prince of Humans" I spoke as they was in some shock as Larcade asked them not to call him anything related to being a Prince.

"LUCY!" Dimaria rushed over holding smiling with Brandish following her. "You got something?" I asked as Dimaria showed off Ultear's headband smirking. "Yep" she answered as I smiled toward her. "Gonna need some Fairy Dust" Dimaria then informed me as I put a hand on my shoulder. My wings. "Lucy you need to stretch your wings after being in a crystal for so long, are you saying you haven't done that yet?" Larcade soon asked worried as I sighed. "They have darkened with being tainted, I can't stand that" I whispered shocking everyone.

"Lucy you could lose the ability to fly if you don't stretch them" Brandish spoke as I made my wings grow out my back. Instead of being colourful they was darker, they looked dull slightly being so dark. "They still look amazing Lucy" Wendy spoke coming over grabbing my hand shocking me slightly as she was smiling right at me. "She is right" Larcade and Natsu spoke at the same time getting them to look at each other and than toward me. "Brandish can you catch what I have left?" I asked as she walked behind me.

I flapped my wings without flying as I felt some of the power of the wings come off as I turned my head to see golden dust in Brandish's hands as I made my wings vanished soon as there was enough. "Alright let's save us some chick" Dimaria said as she had the headband on her golden gauntlet as it started to glow as Brandish put the fairy dust over it as everything around us all froze. Natsu, Wendy, Larcade, Brandish, Dimaria and I were the only ones moving. "So this is a Time Neon" Larcade spoke. 

"I don't see Ultear anywhere" I spoke looking around as Dimaria threw the headband to her side as Ultear showed up catching it as Wendy and Natsu looked toward her. "Ya know Lyon and Gray put a bet saying you turned into an old lady here" Natsu spoke laughing slightly as Ultear had a dark aura around her. "They are so dead" she muttered coldly getting Wendy to giggle. "Sorry it took so long Ultear" I spoke as she looked toward me in shock. "You got in trouble, you do not have to be sorry" she replied as I shook my head.

"I gave my word, I kept it but it was late so I am sorry" I spoke bowing slightly as she was in more shock. "Same old Lucy" Dimaria and Brandish spoke as I stood straight. "Dimaria what next?" I asked as she ordered Ultear to put the headband on, she was confused but listened putting it on. "Everyone be ready for some pain this might hurt" Dimaria spoke. "Might means a lot" Brandish and I spoke sighing as Dimaria smirked as she clicked her fingers as everything was moving again, all of us fell to the ground in pain.

"There she is free, all needed was fairy dust and time magic" Dimaria spoke getting up first as we all slowly followed as Ultear was looking around smiling and laughed slightly covering her mouth. "I-I'm really free" she whispered as I heard the dark thoughts once more. "Should of left her there, bitch most likely has done a sin after all she is human" I heard my own voice in my head as I kept on the happy face as Natsu and Ultear were talking like best friends with Wendy thanking Dimaria over and over again.

Dimaria was confused on how to reply as Larcade and Brandish looked toward me worried. "Drop the lies" they both spoke, Brandish snapped while Larcade said it softly getting everyone's attention. "Who's voice is it?" Brandish asked as I looked away toward the ground. "Lucy we need to know to help you" Brandish then added as I kept quiet as a hand went onto my shoulder as I looked to see Natsu in front of me. "We want to help you, so please let us" he spoke as I sighed explaining I heard my own voice with dark thoughts.

I didn't say what words my own voice was saying or what dark thoughts I have had. "Grandpa better hurry up" Brandish whispered worried as I used my left arm to grabbed the top of my right arm. "We will find a way Lucy" Wendy spoke smiling toward me as we heard the guards shouting of a incoming attack as Zodiacs gave of the clashing of keys. "Someone wants action" I spoke looking toward Zodiacs as Dimaria grabbed my arm dragging me toward the gate. "Time and Stars together again" Dimaria nearly shouted with joy.

I laughed and smiled as the guards were opening the gates. "DIMARIA HOLD IT LUCY NEEDS REST" Brandish shouted as I called Zodiacs open as the keys were around me as I turned my head to see the others there looking worried. "Honest truth I would like to keep my word to Levy" I spoke as Natsu and Wendy sighed shaking their heads as Dimaria and I smirked toward each other. "Let us have some fun" Dimaria spoke as we rushed out to fight.