Erza POV

I slashed at the tree's thick, already scarred trunk in frustration. My father was getting older, but still insisted on going to war with other countries. Even though I'm only 16 years old, I have had to adopt the position of a diplomat and battle strategist in place of my late mother, Irene. Not only that, but I am expected to live up to her legacy as well, being one of the most successful warriors in our country's history, and here we are, going head to head, risking our entire empire in a pointless war, a pointless dailybloodbath, in a loosing battle against the Alverez Empire. Lucy has already been sent to war in place of her elderly father as the General Commander and has even put aside her differences with Juvia, Now General Juvia Lockster, and is always in conflict. The last time I saw them was over a year ago on my 15th birthday and they were covered in scars. There just isn't enough mage soldiers in the army. No to say that Lucy and Juvia aren't powerful. They can each take out a whole legion by themselves, yet they need more help. 

I sigh as I walk through the town of Magnolia, near the castle and where the knight-mage guild of Fairytail resides. Outside, I spot a drafting booth. Ever since this war began, they've been drafting men and women, no matter what age or background. Whoever's willing. Even some who are not. Adjust the shoulder straps of my assassin-based clothing, made of flame lizard hide. All Generals and the General Commander have one. I personally have multiple. I have my signature red hair loose, hanging just bellow my shoulder blades. I have my kingdom's emblem, a pair of swords, engraved into my earrings, a symbol of me being apart of the royal family. Most of the time, princess's would be kept under lock and key, but not me. I was already qualified to become a General Commander. I was on par with Lucy, the strongest warrior in the kingdom if not on a higher level. 

I walked through the crowd, people moving out the way when the saw me. I growled at any who stared for to long. The commander who was currently drafting the people willing, he stood up immediately, bowing.

"Your highness! To what do I owe this pleasure?" He said, eyes trained on my shoes.

"I wish to join General Commander Heartfilia And aid her in battle at the west front." I say, everyone in the crowd freezes. Their eyes all wide and trained on on me.

"B-b-but your greatness! Your father would have my head if I sent you off into battle! I have already had several death threats from General Commander Heartfilia's father for sending her off into the front lines!"

I laughed at this man's cowardice, "I will offer you my protection from my father in exchange that you allow me to join. In the case that you do not, I will have you executed for treason, disobeying royalty is a criminal offence." I say, my eyes dark. This is something I took very seriously. Usually I would spend my time helping the citizens, killing the monsters that came frequently. I still went by the name Scarlet. My father had nothing against it. He thought it was a nickname that was earned because of my hair and, errr, tendencies to create bloodbaths of monster blood. I was still a Squire, as were all my friends. Even Mira, who has almost qualified. By the time I get back, I should have the qualifications, along with Lucy and Juvia. I told Gramps to make sure that his son didn't go ape shit and pull me back to the palace. When Gramps ruled apparently he kept both his sons under lock and key and safe in the palace unless necessary. Apparently this was his way of repenting for keeping his kids locked up for 20+ years. I registered under the name Scarlet, a reminder of that dragon boy I met all those years ago. I don't remember what he looked like, but that name has stuck with me. 

I walked alongside the trailer of new recruits. Unlike them, after two days, I would be heading to the frontlines with the recruits that have just finished training. They would be there, training for 4 months. Unlike them, however, I have been trained in combat my whole life and I have almost mastered Requip magic. Just a few spells and weapons need to be tweaked.

Lucy's the youngest General Commander and the first Woman in the army to be granted a high ranking position. It's true that she inherited the position, but that did not make her any less qualified. In fact, she surpassed her father's magical abilities a few years ago. She's only 15 right now, by the way. Juvia's a war hardened hero, but only joined Lucy when she turned 14. Lucy has been General Commander since she was 13. She's apparently an insane disciplinarian but refuses to live in the optimal conditions that all at or above the rank of Commander. They usually didn't even step out onto the battle feild. I planned on changing that.

Here's the list of the ranks in the army:

1. Queen

Unlike most societies, the in Fiore, the Queen is incharge of the army. Letting the king have time to look after other important matters such as money, and other issues in the kingdom. She is never expected to be on the battlefield as she is too valuable. The one time the Queen was killed, the King went mad and killed himself.

2. The Monarch's oldest daughter (heir to the throne) or (in the case of the heir being a prince) the Prince's fiancé.The Queen in training. Nothing else needs to be said. She is also never supposed to be on the battle field. If she is killed, Queen goes apeshit crazy and murders a leigon's worth of the enemies men by herself and the army does the rest. The army would panic and it would take a while to get a new one and if the princess was the fiancé of the heir, ooh he would get in on it too. This has only happened twice before.

3. The General Commander 

The one who helps command the smaller legions, giving strict orders from either themselves or the Queen/princess herself and is incharge of making sure that the Generals do their jobs, and is incharge of the whole army. Lucy is the current General Commander, the position that her family has held for 3 generations. Very occasionally (unless in Lucy's case) do they ever leave their tents. If one is killed, huge deal, country under lock down, freak out, Army gets desperate and goes into murder mode. The GC is usually surprisingly popular, and the whole army starts to panic and attack at random. This is the reason that in the rare occasion that the GC is killed, it is usually kept a secret until it either gets leaked or the funeral or the new one is chosen. This has only happened 4 times.

4. The 4 Generals

Each incharge of one quarter of the army, the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western armies. They usually reside at the four different points, but since the South  is currently over heavy attack, the East and West have traveled downwards to aid them while the North spreads out to watch for any other attacks from the other sides. These Generals include: Juvia Lockster, The Southern General and Gajeel Redfox, The eastern General along with two older generals. At the moment, Gajeel is my age. They leave more often than the average General Commander, but not very often. Unless your Juvia and Gajeel. It is a very big deal if one of the leaders of a leigon is killed, the country is put on half lock down because someone needs to be very powerful to kill a General, let alone get to one as most usually stay in safety. The General Commander, Queen and Princess will select the best next candidate out of the Maxo's and the past Maxo will choose one of the Minos to become a Meedo and the New Meedo would choose one of their past Milion to become the new Mino. All in all, a very big deal. Only happened 9 times.

5. Maxo Commanders

Each Leigon is divided into 10 Centions, all headed by a Maxo Commander. They're basically the ones  of their group of soldiers that usually ranges in the numbers of 100,000 soldiers. They of coarse answer to their one of the 4 generals respectively. They come out, but are not very involved in the fight. They certainly fight more than the average General. It is considered a sad occasion if a Maxo is killed but their respective General will waist no time choosing a new one. It is quite the occasion for one to be killed. Happened 1,000 times.

6. Meedo Commanders

Each of the 10 Centions are divided up into 10 groups again called Decions, each headed by a Meedo Commander. They are incharge of 10,000 soldiers each. Though they answer to all above them. They are more likely in the battle but if things get hairy, they are very likely to run and hide. It is slightly a larger deal if one of these guys is offed but then the Maxo of the Cention That has a Decion with a missing Meedo will choose a new one. Happened about 2,000 times.

7. Mino Commanders

Each Decion is, you guessed it, divided into 10 groups called Milimons, which are composed of 1000 soldiers. Pretty much everyone but the actual soldiers are their superiors. They lead their groups into battle and are usually in the thick of things with their men, like true leaders. Though it is not considered much of a loss if one is killed, the Meedo Commander of the Decion that contains the Milimon with the missing Mino will just choose a suitable replacement. Happened 20,000 times

8. The actual soliders

They make up most 95% of the army and do most of the work. There are 4,000,000 solidiers in the army including the Generals and all the Commanders, but the estimated Fiore population is 10,000,000. (That's only the mother land by the way)