Natsu chased the army as they retreated. Erza and Lucy beside him. Neither letting up. Neither giving up. No matter how weary, they promised to protect him and they will. Lucy was running low on physical energy as she summoned Capricorn and Aries. They both appeared. She only pointed forward as she fell to her knees. Aries put her hand on her, " are you ok?"

Lucy nodded, "stay with Natsu...please." The spirits nodded. Lucy started to sway and fall. "I have to hold on just a little bit more." she closed her eyes focusing on her magic.

"Requip," Erza summoned every weapon in her armory sending them forward using her magic to past the point of exhaustion. If she continued she could become ill or loose her magic completely.

Lucy opened her eyes and cried out, "erza! stop please!" Her scream caught levy and gajeels attenention.

"Let's go," Levy grabbed Gajeel and ran toward the retreating army and their friends.

Gajeel smiled "Do I get a snack.?"

Levy wrote IRON in the air, "now come on." they ran past Lucy and joined the spirits in helping Natsu and Erza. Erzas skin was beginign to look pale. Her eyes sinking in with dark circles starting to surround them. She falls to her knees her weapons dissapearing. Her breathing became heavy.

Wendy and Carla were flying above checking to see who needed help when they heard lucy scream. "Erza!," lucy jumped up and though she couldn't feel her feet she ran. Wendy looks ahead of Lucy in time to watch Erza fall face first into the dirt.

"Carla down there Erza is in trouble."Carla dove toward Erza.

Natsu notices that Capricorn and Aries suddenly vanished. He stops and looks around. Lucy slides on her knees up to Erza flipping her over. Wendy lands next to her dropping quickly to check for a pulse. "Erza," he turns away from the retreating evil. He goes walks toward Erza. "We need to get Erza back to the guild. Hey Iron Breath!"

Gajeel looked over to Natsu. Something about his face stopped him from saying anything sassy back, "What?!"

"Take care of any of those stragglers. I have to check on the others." He waved walking away, " oh and if you see Zerif tell him our fight isn't finished."

Wendy looks up as Natsu approaches. "She is still breathing but both her magic and physical energy are extremely low. I've done what I can, my magic is pretty low too."

He nods, "Go get some rest, Wendy. There are likely others that will need to be healed." Patting her on the head he bends over and picks up Erza. Looking to lucy "Can you walk?"Wendy and Carla fly off.

Lucy stood up and nods. She takes a wobbly step, " On second thought where is Happy?" Looking up she realized Natsu was already gone. Most of the other guild members had left when the army began retreating. She shakely walked through a field of destruction.

Gajeel and Levy caught up. "So bunny girl, are you gonna tell me what happened?"

"huh" lucy squeks startled. "I thought you were finishing off the army?"

"Eh they ran to far ahead I didn't feel like chasing them." he shrugged.

"yeah Luce about that why did the army retreat? I mean I get Natsu and Erza going haywire but what..."

"ennnnn" a sound interupted her.

"what was that?" Lucy asks as they looked around.

"There" Levy pointed to a blue lump trying to stand up.

"It's Juvia."Lucy tried to run but tripped.

Gajeel walked over and picked her up, "bunny girl you really need to watch what your doing or you'll hurt your self." He briskly walked toward the guild. Levy laughed and chased after him.

Lucy sits up and tried to stand. She twisted her ankle. "ugh just my luck" she sighed and decided to crawl. Footsteps approach. She looks up from the boots in front of her.

Laxus was looking down at her "really Blondie?"

"hehheh" she smiled and laughed nervously, "I uh fell and twisted..."he rolled his eyes and picked her up.

"Where's Flame Brain?" He walked toward the guild not even looking down at her.

"He had to take Erza to the medical room...she's pretty hurt." Lucy said twiddling her thumbs.

"That bad huh? Just like before...leaving a comrad out in the open all alone." he whispered the last part.

Flash back

"So Laxus, whats that big surprise you mentioned?" Bixlow asked as they walked back into Magnolia.

"You'll see." Laxus laughed imagining their faces to him and Kayla dating.

"I bet it will be amazing!" Freed gushed.

"Of course it will its Laxus." Evergreen smiled.

Laxus just smiled as they walked through the guild doors. They all stopped when the noticed everone was silent. As they looked around they found many of thier comrads injured.

"What...What happened here?" Evergreen let out in a gasp.

"There was a war..." Master came downstairs.

"A war?" Freed looked around horrified.

The master nodded.

"Where there any casualties?" Laxus asked looking for Kayla.

"Just one..." the master sighed out while looking to where Natsu sat just seconds before.

Horror ran throught Laxus.

"Who?" asked Bixlow.

"Kayla," Mira whispered.

Current

"Uh Laxus are you ok?" Lucy asked watching lightening clouds form above.

Sparks flying around him brought Laxus back to the current time. "I'm fine. Just don't let Natsu get away with abandoning you out there."

Lucy smiled as the sparks died down, "I won't."

He walked in and set her at one of the tables. Then he turned around and walked away without saying another word.

Lucy watched as the sparks grew around him once more at the guild door. A bandaid hand touched her shoulder. She turned, " Oh Mira. Are you ok?"

Mira giggled, " I will be fine what about you?" motioning to Lucys ankle.

"Its just a sprang, how is everyonoe else?" Lucy looked at the crowded room.

"We are making due. Lisanna has a concusion. Canna has a broken leg. Gildarts is pretty upset. Lets see. Levy and Gajeel are fine just running low on magic power. Elfman disapeared, I think hes looking for Evergreen. She got poison in her eyes. Erza isnt doing to well. Gray has been in a panic since he arrived back at the guild..."

"OK mira. What about Natsu? and have you seen Happy?" Lucy said as she looked for the two of them.

Mira looked up, "Natsu is sleeping in the masters office...I haven't seen happy...but Natsu isn't tearing down walls so I wouldn't worry too much. Rest up and smile we won...for today." a dark look overcame her as she whispered the last part. Thats when Lucy realized that no one else knew about Kayla.