A/N: So I did a small poll on Google+ (I'm more active on there than Tumblr and/or Twitter; link to my G+ page is on my profile) asking who wanted to see a chapter in Takashi's POV.

The response to yes has been immense and since he is an important character, I obliged. Also, I will say this again: there's not going to be any stupid ass love triangle.

(A few also said no but don't worry, I'm switching back to Natsu's POV next chapter.)

Enjoy! :D

Chapter 8: Ready For Battle

Takashi's POV

"It's been nearly four days, what do you mean by you haven't found her yet?!" Takashi McGarden yelled in frustration at his soldiers. He paced around the battle strategy room, trying to calm himself. Ever since Lucy and Natsu got captured by Zeref, he hadn't slept once. For the love of God, please let them be safe.

"We're sorry," one of them stammered out. "We're trying but-"

"But what?! I already told you where to look for Lucy!"

"Well...that's the problem. She-the princess is not there anymore."

Takashi froze. So he was right about Lucy and Natsu being kept at Alvarez. Oh this was bad. "What you mean by 'she's not there anymore?!' And why didn't you tell me about this earlier?!"

"According to the spies that you placed at Alvarez, they saw Princess Lucy and Natsu Dragneel jump from a high rise tower and encounter Brandish before escaping the kingdom on a horse. We currently have no idea of their whereabouts due to the state of things."

Takashi clenched his fists and looked the other way. He was seriously on the verge of breaking something. Trying to keep his composure, he said, "You're dismissed. If they have escaped as you say, then keep a careful eye on whether they're coming back to Magnolia. They could be in hiding as of now so don't drop any hints that you know about this information."

The three Hioku guards saluted and marched out of the room, leaving Takashi alone with his thoughts. Well, that took a lot out of me.

First, he finds out that Zeref was the one who started the war. Then after he finds the key, he finds that Zeref was the good old Emperor Spriggan himself, who claims to be Natsu's older brother. The most horrifying part of that revelation? He could see the family resemblance, at least in the physical department.

He couldn't let Zeref anywhere near Natsu or especially Lucy for that matter. Nobody knew the bigger picture of the situation. Sure, him barely escaping Alvarez and getting the key to the Heartfilias was what got Lucy into this mess to begin with but there was literally no other way to end the war. He wasn't going to let the lives of the people who die fighting be used for bringing the Celestial Spirit Queen.

He couldn't take it anymore. He pushed a white vase and pushed it down onto the ground, breaking into pieces. Kicking the stand that the vase was sitting on and falling down on his knees, he finally yelled, "Fucking shit!"

"I'd never thought you'd be the one to break down in fury, Takashi," said a familiar voice.

Takashi turned around and saw Layla standing at the doorway.

"Princess Layla." Takashi stood up and looked at the broken vase. A guilty feeling arose within him. "Um...sorry about the vase."

Layla shook her head and dismissed the apology with a wave of her hand. "No, it's fine," she said gently. "I understand how you feel. Jude and James are no better to be honest. James is breaking stuff all over the place while your father and Uncle Wes are trying to comfort Jude." She walked up to Takashi and gestured him to a chair. "Sit down. I have some ice with me."

Takashi didn't feel like sitting down on a chair. He was too exhausted, too worried. But Layla pushed his shoulder and he eventually relented and took a step towards the nearest chair. A sharp pain suddenly shot up to his brain and nearly collapsed onto the chair.

"Here," said Layla as she handed him an ice pack. Pulling up another chair as she sat across from him, she asked, "You know, I have been wondering, where did you find that key?"

Takashi winced. He'd never told her parents where he found it. When Jude first asked, he just said that he found to being sold at a bargain shop in another town. Of course, with everyone sick and tired of the war, his father and Jude didn't ask and simply went up to their brothers with this information and later came to the compromise that he'd have to marry Lucy when they're old enough. But he realized that maybe Layla knew that was a lie from the start. "Layla, did you overhear what the guards were informing me of?"

"Yes. I'm assuming that you found out about Zeref and Natsu?"

"And who the Celestial Spirit resides in. As far as you're concerned...the Celestial Spirit Queen doesn't reside in the Celestial World itself. She's way too powerful to live there."

"Yes. Every few years, the Queen actually resides in a Celestial Spirit Wizard or Mage." Layla grew silent. "And you found out about all of this...with just one visit to Alvarez."

Takashi nodded. "And wouldn't you believe it," he added with a dry laugh, "Zeref was perfectly willing to tell me what he was going to do if she's unleashed. Right before he tried to kill me."

"It will be very dangerous if she's released into the world and should only be released at the dire of times. You aren't willing to let that happen, are you?"

"I have a feeling that you would do the same."

"Now that is true." Layla leaned back into her chair. "And any reason why you were acting cold towards Natsu?"

Takashi gave her a blank look, to which she continued, "I've been watching the entire exchanged between the four of you that night. You didn't know what to feel, didn't you?"

Takashi looked the other way. He was not going to have this conversation. But as per usual, Layla had different ideas.

"You were trying to protect them," hypothesized Layla. You knew that there was next to no chance that-"

"-how I feel and what I have to do are two different things, Layla," said Takashi. "Natsu is and always will be my friend but I also know that Lucy is not going to be happy with me later on in our lives. And for that, I'm willing to risk my life for the both of them."

"I can always negotiate the terms that we came up with while also keeping peace within both kingdoms."

"You-you can do that?"

Layla nodded. "Feelings can change over time, dear. Even now, that part of the peace treaty is...not even that concrete."

"Wait, you mean that its not even a part of the treaty? Then why did you guys-"

"Truth be told, we wanted to finish the war as soon as possible." Layla sighed. "Its been ten years, and anymore added to that total would have driven all of us insane. You finding that key was actually more than enough for your uncle to call off all of the forces. The unification of the kingdoms is actually considered more of an option than a part of the peace agreement as of this point."

Takashi stared at her in shock. She had to be kidding me, right?! The first time I heard this news, Uncle Wes made it see like I didn't have a choice in the matter! Then he started giggling. Throwing his head back, he broke into insane laughter. Stopping a minute later, he commented, "So Lucy has a choice."

"Yes. But so do you. The both of you have the freedom. If it doesn't work out-"

"Layla, I said this earlier. Lucy won't be happy with me later on in our lives. In fact, since our childhoods, she's had her eye on Natsu from the beginning. The idiot doesn't even realize that he's fallen for her, and Lucy vice versa. And besides, the last time I had seen him," Takashi added with another chuckle. "With the exception of Wendy, I don't think he'd never let anyone drag him to do a waltz. You may think I'm kidding but the others from the guild were just as shocked."

Layla raised an eyebrow. "...You have been exceptionally observant, haven't you? Then again, this is all coming from the guy who used to pull pranks around town with him."

Takashi's thoughts went back to simpler times. "Honestly, if the war hadn't started...wait, how do you know about Natsu and Zeref being related?!"

"I-" Layla stammered and then sighed. "You know, maybe I should tell you about how I knew. But first...you've fallen in love with Lucy, haven't you?"

Takashi gave a surprised look once more but the shock wasn't as big as he was expecting it to be. Instead, he said, "That remains to be seen, to be honest. But like I said-"

"-you don't have a chance." Layla smiled sadly. "Don't beat yourself over it, sweetie. Now, shall we get started? We have a lot of history to go through."

Takashi nodded. "So what do you know about Natsu?"

"On the year 770-" Layla started to say but was interrupted as James burst into the room and for once, Takashi wished that he could freeze time.

"Layla," said James in a urgent tone. "You need to read this." He gave her an envelope. "It's just as Jude feared. They're at-"

"You mean they were," Layla cut in gravely. "Takashi just told me everything, James. We as a kingdom need to keep this quiet."

"But-"

Takashi stood up and gaped at Layla and James. "Um, what's going on?"

"It's Zeref," Layla responded. She gave Takashi the note. "James, you know what to do."

"I'll have entire town ready," said James. Then he glared at Takashi. "I'm surprised that you found out about this while you found the key but I sincerely thank you for keeping this under wraps."

"Well, um.." Takashi rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Don't mention it, Your majesty."

As James walked out in a urgent stride, Takashi opened up the note that Layla gave him. "Are you guys expecting an attack from Alvarez?"

"Oh, they'd crush us in battle," said Layla. "No, we're going to be dealing with something much worse than the battlefield."

Confused, Takashi read the open note. To his shock and horror, it read,

Layla,
 It looks like your daughter and my brother have escaped the kingdom. You know what Alvarez can do in battle. Do not try to fight, as it will be a full on extermination. I'll give you a month to think about what your plan is going to be. Handing over Lucy will be good for you.

Zeref

"You aren't going to, are you?!" Takashi shouted. "Lucy and Natsu aren't going to be stupid enough to come back to Magnolia right now."

"That's why we're going to have our troops ready." Layla said softly. "All of the kingdom's guilds are going to help defend the area. They're the only chance we got."

"But how the hell are we going to stop Zeref?!"

Layla stared out the window. "Unfortunately for us, Takashi...this is a duel between brothers. We're just simply getting swept along with it...and that just may be my fault to begin with."

Takashi froze. "Wait, what? Layla, what do you mean? How is it your fault to begin with?"

But all Layla did was sigh and gesture him back to the chair. "You might as well sit down, Takashi. We have a lot to talk about."

A/N: HAI! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :D

I really hope that you guys got what you wanted out of Takashi's POV. I was thinking about combining his and Levy (you all know what I'm gonna do with Levy MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA) but maybe I'll save Levy's POV until later into the story.

And so, concerning the plot of this fanfic, what do you think happened between Natsu and Zeref and Layla in the past? I'd love to hear the theories :DDDDDD

Until then, Sayonara! :D