HELLO! i'M NOT DEAD! JUST AN EXTREMELY TIRED NEW MOM! My son is 6 months old and is teething! Mommy needs a break, so daddy is letting mommy have a half an hour on sundays to write! As he is working 6 days a week 12 hour days, it's kinda like being a single mom. It's been hard, but I'm enjoying every minute with Finn! Being a mom has been my greatest gift.
Story wise I'm going to try and get on a regular schedule, I'm in the middle of writing the final chapters so hang tight, and I'm sorry. I had an idea for this story, and it was something completely different but then this all took over. Haha. But I love this story, I love all I'm doing for it, so please hang tight!
Much love to you all! Stay safe and healthy!
"Who's ready to kick some ass?!" Gajeel said with a certain excitement to him. He was ready more than ever for this to happen. He was ready to see his kick ass wife do some kick ass things. He was ready to watch Lucy kill it on the battlefield. He was ready to get the fight of his life. But more importantly he was ready to bring his angels home. He was more than ready to have his babies home. He and Levy cried all night the last few nights. They'd look at their empty nursery and lose it. They really wanted their babies, which kinda only pissed them off more. They were ready to kill these fuckers for making their babies be away for so long. It was singlehandedly the hardest thing both of them have ever had to do. Letting their babies go to a place they could not reach them made their hearts sink in the worst ways. Their connections with the babies was still there, but not as strong. Just like mates, their children also have that emotional bond. It was getting harder feel them the way they desperately wanted too.
"UGH!" Lucy said with a grumpy sigh. They were all here earlier that the rest of the guild. The mates, slayers, and dragons all wanted to sit down before involving everyone else.
"What's her problem." Cobra asked Laxus. Laxus just smirked. Lucy caught his smirk.
"Shut up!" She yelled at him.
"I didn't say anything!" Laxus said with a laugh.
"Your eyes did!"
"Only to you." He smart mouthed.
"I'm going to kill you." She said in a huff.
"Not what you were saying last night."
"Ew." Natsu said.
"Double ew." Gajeel agreed.
"Oh shut up!" Lucy growled. They all laughed.
"She's putting off an awful lot of electricity today." Loke said, appearing out of thin air.
"Loke!" Lucy yelled.
"It's fine! Baby L is going to do that." Loke reasoned, and without a beat Levy said,
"It's not Baby L that's giving her the problem, it's Big L." The girls all laughed. Lucy reddened.
"Sh-Shut up Levy." Lucy said shyly.
"She's not wrong." Laxus said.
"Could you stop?!" Lucy said pleadingly.
"Yes." He paused. "But will I? No."
"I hate you."
"Oh, you know you love him." Perun said walking into the guild. "Good morning everyone." They all said good morning to the dragons. Then they all took a seat at a round table. They had been so lighthearted, but now everything felt…off. Like clouds had just ruined their parade. They were happy to laugh and joke and be happy, but the truth was, there wasn't anything to really laugh about. This was all so real. This was all so scary. Life was about to get rocky for a while.
"Calm down guys." Igneel said. "We've got some ideas."
"We know, pops. It's still just so hard." Natsu said holding his mates' hand tightly. "We all have to do this over again. The meeting, then the couple days to say goodbye, then the goodbye, then the days after the goodbye, then the hard work. It just sucks."
"But now you've got us." Perun said. "And we will not let you guys down. You guys are in the safest hands you could be in. I promise you that."
"So, where do we start?" Laxus said.
"With you." Perun responded.
"Then let's go." Laxus said. He was holding his mate's hand lightly. He didn't want to hurt her. He knew she wasn't fragile just because she was pregnant, it just felt like a better decision for today.
"We don't know exactly where we're fighting. We're sending you out to different parts of the forest, where Meekah told them we'd be. That being said, Laxus, I told you you'd get your team back. So, you have Bickslow, Evergreen, Freed, Lisanna, and Orga. Please remember that you need to use heavily lightning based spells to get him weak. He has a pacemaker and electricity normally fucks with those things."
"I get the pleasure of rubbing it in Orga's face that I got Lucy? Hell yeah! There might be a silver lining after all." Laxus cheered.
"Could you not? How did you even find that out?" Lucy whined.
"He told him." Natsu said. "Like freely told him."
"To which I slammed it in his face that I got you. That I had won." He said cockily.
"That and a few really sweet and sensitive words." Natsu teased.
"I have no clue what you are talking about. I'm never sweet or sensitive." Laxus said with a little laugh. "Yeah, okay, I was a little sentimental."
"You were, but that's okay it helped you in the long run. It calmed your nerves, and you got to gloat." Perun said with a smile to his favorite two people. "Next team I want to establish is: Natsu. Natsu, I've given you a handful." Natsu chuckled.
"Lay it on me old man." He said with a smile.
"You, my boy, have Lucy, Levy, Cana, and Erza." Natsu paled.
"I have no other boys? Just me with four crazy women?!" Natsu panicked, but a loud HEY was yelled by the two in his presence.
"We're not that bad!" Levy said.
"We are great to be on a team with! I'm on your damn team!" Lucy said.
"Yeah, but," he lowered his voice and whined, "you both are together now!"
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Levy said.
"You guys are weird together." Natsu whined again.
"Good luck bro." Gajeel said with a snicker.
"Seriously, good luck." Laxus followed up.
"You're the only one I want to help take care of these girls. You know them very well. And you aren't their mate, but you hold a special bond with Lucy. You guys kick ass together and Levy it a great way to help with runes and distraction." Perun reasoned.
"Natsu, be a man and do it for your best friend." Igneel said. "Lucy has been your best friend and number one priority since she came. Buck up."
"I know." Natsu said softly. "It's just going to be hard. I'm so close to Lucy, that I don't want my feelings to interfere with that. And Levy just had my pseudo children, so I'm protective over her too."
"Which is needed." Perun said. "These teams are not random."
"Can we do me?" Gajeel asked nervously. "I'm dying inside. I need a strong team to help with all this bullshit."
"Yes. You will have Yukino, Juvia, Kinana, and Rogue." Perun said. He studied Gajeel's face.
"Sting and Rogue aren't fighting together?" He asked.
"No, because you guys have the same magic. It may be helpful on the battlefield." Perun said. Gajeel nodded. At least he had Yukino. That was going to be a big help. "Cobra that leaves you with: Wendy, Gray, Mira, and Sting."
"Can I say something?" A quiet voice asked. The females had not shared with their husbands what Wendy had needed. They thought it was safer for Romeo that way. Wendy hadn't gotten to apologize, because Cobra and Laxus were not at their table when she got back. They were busy doing bookwork. So now she needed to swallow her pride. "Laxus, Cobra, I'm really sorry for acting the way I did. It isn't me; you know that."
"Squirt, no one blames you. You're allowed to feel that way. I wasn't totally on board with it either. I see now that it was the right decision, but I don't want to hinder you. We didn't say a word last night, and it genuinely killed me inside." Cobra said softly. "I love you Squirt. I'd never want to make you lose out on life experiences, but we are in the middle of a life or death ordeal. It's scary for all of us, I can't imagine being a kid in all this. And that's what you are Wendy, you're a kid. You shouldn't even be involved with this."
"But you are." Laxus said. "You have a role to play in this as well, because you want that life. You want to grow up and get married and have babies. I know you do. So, we have to protect you, just like we had to with Levy and Lucy. And really, all the mates. We hate doing this to you, because you are super responsible and mature. We just can't, because losing you, would kill all of us slayers. We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if you died." Wendy's eyes had steady tears flowing from them.
"I'm just so…sorry. I love you guys like you're my brothers and you are. I just get so scared that I'll disappoint you." She sobbed.
"You could never kid." Gajeel said softly. "Nothing you could ever do, would make us love you any less."
"Yeah. I may not have known you long, but I know my feelings and you are like a sister to both Sing and I." Rogue said.
"Best freaking teammate to have." Natsu said proudly. Lucy wasn't going to fight him on it. Wendy needed to hear all this. It'd help with her anxiety.
"I promise I won't let you guys down." She said wiping her tears.
"I'm glad that's all cleared up." Perun said proudly looking at his son. "There isn't much more we can plan with this battle. We, the dragons, obviously are meeting with the guild, but if you guys would rather go do something while we talk to them you are more than welcome too."
"Can we go sit by the lake?" Levy asked softly. "Have a fire?"
"I know someone who makes the best fires!" Natsu said laughing.
"I'll get stuff for smores." Yukino said.
"I'll get the hot chocolate." Kinana added.
And all the sudden the men were at the mercy of the women planning a fire out by the lake at Laxus' house.
The boys had set up the Dreyar's backyard into a great place to have a fire. They had brought out a hug fire pit that would keep everyone warm. There were chairs surrounding it with cupholders for everyone's drink. There was a cooler full of drinks, and Sprite for Lucy, since it was all she could stomach at the moment. Couldn't even drink water. It just made her throw up more. They had a stack of blankets for everyone and trays for their food.
It was about dusk when all the girls walked into the backyard. They were wearing their pajamas. They were all smiling and laughing. The boys just smiled. This was their women. This was so much different than the last time they did this. This was far more dangerous. Having all of them in one place could be deadly, but the slayers needed this. They were in hyperawareness mode. They could spot a difference miles away. They each used their specific type of magic to their advantage, especially Wendy who was watching the change in wind carefully.
"Oh my God!" Lucy said excitedly.
"It looks great!" Levy said.
"Just what we need." Yukino smiled. Each girl hugged their husband tightly.
"Let's get this fire going!" Natsu said excitedly. He was ready to make this fire. He was about to show off.
"Yeah. Go for it man. But not too much! I like my home!" Laxus yelled.
"Yeah, yeah." Natsu said, blowing him off. Natsu took a medium sized breath, and everyone else held theirs. All the sudden a bird shaped fire gust came from Natsu's mouth. Everyone was impressed. The fire was starting to get to the size it needed to be.
"That was pretty cool." Lucy said.
"Yeah, where did you learn that?" Lisanna said, as they all took seats in their chairs. The men grabbed their women a drink. They then each took their respective beers and took a seat.
"Practicing to impress you Lizzy." Natsu said sheepishly.
"That's too sweet!" Levy said.
"I-I just wanted to try something new with my magic. It's been a fun hobby. It isn't anything super cool." He smiled. "Yet."
"I can't wait to have my babies back. They deserve to be here." Levy said with a small smile.
"I know Lev." Lucy said. "But if it helps, we're all feeling it."
"I know, I just can't hold my infants. They deserve to be here celebrating whatever the hell we're celebrating. I know they won't remember any of this, but it still feels like the whole group isn't here."
"I know what you mean." Lisanna said quietly.
"What do you mean Lizzy?" Natsu asked.
"Loke." She said plainly. "Loke is part of this group. I think he should be here to celebrate whatever the hell we're celebrating. I'm glad he's taking care of the twins, but he's part of this group too."
"He really is." Gajeel said. "That man has protected Levy with his being and saved her and now my kids. He deserves group status. He deserves to be here."
"He treated me more than lovingly when I was away. He treated me like I was an asset. He told me stories. He gave me access to texts that no human has ever been allowed access to. I didn't get to meet the king again, but I knew he was being patient and generous with me. He made sure I had a room that fit my fancy. He made sure that I was fed comfort food and had the greatest tea there ever is. Seriously, I'm going to bug Loke about that tea. He has to get me some!" She giggled. "He truly is a great man, no matter what he did in the past."
"We've all got a past." Cobra said flatly.
"Everyone in this group has a difficult past. It's what binds us together. We can do anything together." Lucy said proudly.
"I really hate to bring down our positive mood, but I think we should talk about this battle together." Yukino said. "We should have a plan between us. As a group and teams."
"She's right." Kinana said. "We should have a plan of some sort, even if we have to change it in the long run."
"Good thinking." Levy said. "Let's start with Laxus and Lisanna."
"We've never worked together. I think it'll be an interesting change of pace. The sane Dragneel. The one I can tolerate." Laxus said smirking over to Natsu.
"She may be the sane one, but I'm the one that can make the best jokes on the field." Natsu said in a huff.
"You're also a monster on the field. I don't compare." Lisanna said softly. "Can I really do this?"
"Wait girl!" Sting yelled. "You took down a demon all by yourself! You kick ass on the field! You are such an important part of this battle! You're right Natsu's a monster on the field, but you, my dear, are a beast! You kicked so much ass! I wish I had video of it!" Sting said encouragingly.
"I know…but,"
"But nothing. You are an amazing mage, you're just part of a group with slayers. We make everyone feel weak."
"Not me." Lucy said with a laugh. "All jokes aside, he is right. The slayers overshadow us. They are too powerful. It makes us feel inadequate, but that's not true. We are very strong women. We can do so much damage that people are scared of us. We are all feared. No one wants to fuck with us, and that has a lot to do with our own strength, not just being associated with slayers."
"I agree." Laxus said. "All you have to do with me and my team is help when he's incapacitated. That's a big role, but you got it. Other than that, if you want to fight hard with us, you can. You're strong, we trust you completely. I bet you could even take them down on your own. But if you are more comfortable with that then just help us at the end." She nodded encouragingly. She was feeling better.
"Let's talk about the power team!" Levy said excitedly. "Team Natsu! Plus Levy!"
"Girl you better just buckle up." Lucy said with a laugh. "We are all beasts, and that means shit's gonna get messy. It means that things will be destroyed."
"Usually everything but our spirits." Natsu said with a cheeky grin.
"Yeah, nothing ever really destroys that for us." Lucy said with a laugh. "We'll need the runes. Your runes can keep me safe, while I set up my spell. I'll need a little time. Not a lot, but depending on how I'm feeling it may take a minute or two. I need to make sure it's up and up right or I could lose baby L. And he's kind of important to me." She smiled.
"Other than that, how can I help?" Levy asked.
"That depends who we're up against. It depends on the magic used." Natsu said. "But no matter what, we've got this!"
"I'm glad I've got Yukino back with me." Gajeel said with a sigh of relief.
"Really? Why? I'm not really anything special." Yukino said shyly.
"Oh you are." Levy said.
"Shut up Levy." Gajeel said.
"No. She should know how much she helped you too." Levy silenced Gajeel. "Thank you. For all the support you gave him. It's greatly appreciated."
"ANYWAYS!" Gajeel said. "I think Rogue and I save our energy till later. We need to conserve our magic so that if we need to tag team together, we can."
"Sounds good." Rogue said.
"How are you feeling about this Kinana?" Gajeel asked.
"Good. I've got a couple tricks up my sleeve. So, don't write me off yet." She said with a huge smile.
"I'd never write you off. You've got a lot of potential in ya girl. You may even show me a thing or two." He returned her smile.
"We've got our work cut out for us." Yukino said. "But at least Levy's back so that means things will be a little easier."
"Girl! I'm so ready to fight! I'm ready to kick some ass! I've been locked up too long! There's nothing more I need than to kick some ass with my best friend." Levy said enthusiastically.
"She's energetic that's for sure." Lucy said rolling her eyes.
"Screw you!" Levy spat back.
"You wanna go?" Lucy said with a hiss and a laugh.
"No, you'll kick my ass." Levy said.
"Only on days that end in Y." Lucy giggled.
"You guys are weird." Laxus said. He then looked to Wendy. "You're quiet Wendy, you okay?"
"Yeah, just taking it all in, that's all." She said with a sad smile.
"Squirt, what's going on?" Cobra said.
"I'm scared to die." She said softly. "I didn't get to be with the love of my life, or get married, or have babies. I'm scared I'll be jipped of that."
"You won't." Cobra said. "You got a kickass team, and you're a badass. You'll do great. I know you will. I believe in you."
"You got soft." Wendy whispered.
"It wasn't me either." Kinana said. "He was still an asshole even to me sometimes. But then you stole his heart."
"Shut up doll!" Cobra yelled with a blush.
"Sorry, but she needs the encouragement."
"I'm ready to see what she can really do on a battlefield." Sting said.
"I'm powerful that's for sure." Wendy said with a giggle.
"Cobra's cockiness is rubbing off on her." Laxus said with a dramatic sigh.
"That's all you boys, not just him." Lisanna said. "You guys are bad influences."
"And yet really good ones." Lucy said.
"We try." Rogue said with a chuckle.
The rest of the night went smoothly. They were all relaxed and just enjoying each other. They had another couple days of training then it was back to the battlefield. But somehow everyone felt better about this battle. They weren't over most of their anxiety, but a some of it had dissipated as they talked more and more with their dragons and each other. Knowing they had a family to come home to made them want to fight this harder than ever before, because they wanted more bonfires, more laughter, more Wendy boy trouble. They knew what needed to be done, and they were starting to feel like they wanted to just go now. But they needed the next two days of training, and loving, before they were truly ready. But those dragons were about to make their training lives Hell. But for tonight it was fun and airy. It was all going to be okay.