Erza POV 

It's been a year since I went off to war. I had my 17th birthday on the battlefield. The Alverez Empire has been destroyed, and the Fiorein Empire gained all of the Alverez land and recourses, as well as the land they own overseas. Lucy, Gajeel, Juvia and I are now fully qualified to become knights, we've seen the battlefield up close and are now a sort of legend. I was now known as Titania, or the Red Demon by the people and our enemies. 

As we returned, The soliders would disperse into their 4 Quaters to the North, South, East and West districts respectively. The Generals have left the Maxo Commanders incharge while they return along with the General Commander and myself. We have all grown and are now considered war hero's.

We were all scarred from our numerous battles and war hardened. The soliders in the army were all to be given break in turns and the ones who were commissioned could leave after a few days once they received their payments, though the ones who had been drafted and or are permanent soliders, which is 76% of the army, would stay and be given leave at the usual periods. As we walked down the streets, cheers erupted from the crowds. My Blackwing armour glistening in the sunlight. I held my sword in hand as we paraded up to the palace. I was greeted by Storm leaping over the stalls and nuzzling my face I laughed and gently stroked her face. Poor Copper was bucking in He chains that she'd been tied up in, in attempt to go and see her favourite human, uhh, Dragon-human thing, Gajeel. Gajeel laughed before walking over and biting the chains off. Lucy was flattened by all her horses. Come on, she had 15. Well, 16 now, if you include the foal that horse number 5, Lion, Named after her spirit Loke and horse number 8, Aré, Named after Aries, just had. Lucy was still thinking of a name for the foal by the time I got to the castle. The familiar screech of surprise as Juvia was flattened by Max. I pushed through the door way, the throne room, dark. I could just make out my father sitting on the throne, mother's empty on his right him and the one ment for the heir, me, on his left. 

I walked towards him and bowed before him, "Father, I have returned. The war is won, Alverez is ours." my head held low. I had been dreading this meeting for months.

"Erza... or should I call you Titania? You disobeyed by orders, basically an act of treason, you blackmailed the casting officer into letting you join and you ignored you royal duties for a year." He says harshly.

"Sorry father." I apologise. I knew this was coming.

I knew he would act like this.

He was angry.

"Erza, you have done well." my father carried on.

I have done well? So is he proud? I can usually read people and understand them, but my father was difficult. Being a king, he learnt to hide his true emotions under a mask, it really did annoy me sometimes.

"However, you still deliberately disobeyed me and put yourself in great danger." He added, now I'm confused, but I know he'll keep bringing that part up. I think he's angry and proud at the same time.

"I'm sorry, father." I replied, I didn't really know what else to say, because really it was true, I disobeyed direct orders.

"Erza, as you disobeyed orders and put yourself in danger, you are not to leave the castle for now, until I say so. I won't be unreasonable and I will let you leave eventually." he ordered.

I expected something like this. It's so he can see how I act, after being in a war really.

"I understand." I replied, head down.

"You may leave, if you so wish." As he said that, I left.

Straight for the training area.

Requipping into my armour, I struck the dummy. And again! And again! And again!

"So how did it go with your father?"

"Lucy!" As I turned around she was stood there, smiling, leaning in the door frame. "He was... strange. He was angry but also proud, I think. However, I'm not aloud to leave the castle for a while."

"Not that orders have stopped you before." Lucy teased.

"True." I said, letting out a little laugh. "So are you goingto join me in training?" I asked.

"Thought you'd never ask." Lucy smiled.

So for the rest of the day, we trained.