"Everybody pay attention. The magic council has devised a plan of action for us to take tonight. Since master Makarov is currently away, I am going to be relaying the information to the guild," Erza proclaimed.
She was front and center, relaying the strategy for tonight. Everybody who was not on a job in the guild was present for the meeting. Lucy stood next to Natsu, who had his arms crossed and an unreadable look on his face.
"The council has requested that we prepare for the enemy's attack tonight outside of the city, in the hopes that we do not damage anything," Erza said, pausing to give Natsu a look. "We have been sent an image of the formation they want us to take."
The red head held the paper up high, but only the ones closest to her were able to read it. There were circles within circles of people drawn, with a dot in the center that everyone assumed was Natsu. The formation looked like a target symbol, and had several rings of mages circled around Natsu so they could keep him away from the attackers.
"Aw, no fair!" Natsu shouted, pointing at the map. "I don't need to be protected by everyone! Besides, if I'm in the middle I won't get to fight any of them!"
"Can't you just follow orders once in your life? This is serious, flame brain!" Gray said.
"If they attack your side of the defense first then maybe they'll actually get through and I'll get to bash some heads!" Natsu said, butting foreheads with Gray.
"That's enough!"
One swift punch across Gray's cheek followed by Natsu's knocked them both to the ground. Erza towered over them, her eyes filled with rage. Natsu and Gray immediately went arm in arm, pretending to be best of friends and synchronizing a 'whatever you say!' to Erza. Satisfied with their change of attitude, she continued.
"We have a chance to finally prove ourselves to the council and I will not have any of you jeopardizing it!"
"What does that mean?" Natsu, who had moved away from Gray and to the other side of Lucy, asked his partner in a small whisper.
The blond rolled her eyes as she answered. "It means she doesn't want anyone ruining our chance to impress the council, so you better listen."
"Just get on with the formation so I can go back to doin' what I want!" Gajeel commanded from the back of the crowd.
Erza nodded her agreement, eyes focusing on the page in her hands.
"They've asked us to spread out in the woods, each making a ring of protection around Natsu. There are to be three rings of protection surrounding Natsu. In the outer ring, they have placed Jet, Droy, and Levy facing the North side."
The team jumped in excitement, chanting together a 'Team Shadowgear!'
"On the East side they've placed Macao, Wakaba, and Romeo."
Romeo raised his fist with a cheerful shout, while Macao and Wakaba looked at each other with a smirk. "They better hope they don't try and get through our side. We may be old timers now but that doesn't mean we can't throw a punch."
"The team on the South end is to be Gray, Lucy, and Elfman."
Gray and Lucy high fived, while Elfman shouted how they were a team of real men.
"And the last team on the outer layer will be on the West side, which will consist of Warren, Reedus, and Laki."
Considering the three had never teamed up before, they looked eager to get started. But Erza had just announced the first ring, and there were two more to go.
"For the second ring, the team covering the North is the Thunder Legion, minus Laxus."
The three were glad to have been put together, but it was obvious Freed was upset that Laxus was separated from their group.
"In the East we have Bisca, Alzack, and Max. Then for the South they've placed Cana, Lisanna, Happy, and Pantherlily."
"We're on it? Let me see how they drew me!" Happy said as he flew over, scanning the page past Erza's shoulder while she read on.
"The final team of this ring will be covering the West, compiled of Gajeel, Wendy, and Carla."
"Two dragon slayers? All right!" Gajeel said with a crack of his knuckles.
Wendy nodded in response while Carla was just happy to not have been separated from the girl.
"And lastly, the people closest to protecting Natsu. The council has requested that I be stationed on facing North, Mirajane facing East, Laxus South, and Juvia protecting the West."
"Sounds like they put the strongest closest to Natsu," Laxus chimed in.
"Yeah right!" Gajeel shouted in protest, while others nodded their heads in agreement.
"Yeah well if they get that close don't think I'll let you have all the fun!" Natsu grinned.
"Boys," Erza said, their attention falling back on her.
She looked at Cana, who stepped forward and flashed her hand full with a wad of cards.
"We will each have an emergency call card from Cana if Warren's telepathy is interfered with. We will all gather at the location the council has chosen before sundown. Please come grab a card, and you are dismissed."
They made a single file line, each taking a card from Cana as she warned them one by one to take care of their card and to not lose it. After receiving her card and tucking it away in her pocket, Lucy followed Natsu to sit at a table. He slumped over top of it, and Lucy couldn't help but notice he was unusually down.
"What's wrong, Natsu?"
"I don't like this," he groaned in response.
"How come?"
"It just doesn't make sense to me. Stuff usually doesn't make sense to me, but this I really don't get. The council doesn't even know who these guys are but they want the whole guild to protect me? Why aren't they asking for help from other guilds if this is as big of a threat as they're making it seem?"
"Saving the world always seems to come down to our guild, doesn't it? I think you're having a hard time with being the one the guild has to protect this time."
"I just wanna be able to fight 'em too," he pouted.
Lucy couldn't help but smile at how pathetic he was being. He was right though, it didn't make sense that the council was requesting this of them. A circle formation around Natsu to keep them from capturing him? If it really was the power to reverse time, there was no telling how it would affect the world. They just came off saving the present from time travel, now they had to do it again?
She just hoped they could put a stop to whoever was after Natsu before they got to him. There was no telling what lengths they would actually go to in order to use his magic, and it scared her. Did the council really think this group was powerful enough that it needed the entire guild to fight them off in order to protect Natsu?
"You need to listen to Erza. Just this once, Natsu. This is serious, and I don't want to think of what would happen if they got you," Lucy said, unable to meet his gaze.
"I'm sure it's nothing we can't handle. We haven't been stopped yet!"
Lucy paused in her response, her fingers fidgeting at her thoughts.
"I mean I don't want to think of what would happen to you if you get captured."
She looked up, their eyes locking. His gaze softened at her words. Lucy hated how easily she was overcome by her emotions, how hard she was fighting the tears from pooling in her eyes. She took a breath, making sure her voice wouldn't crack in the next words she spoke.
"Promise me, Natsu," Lucy said, tone firm. "Promise me you'll listen to Erza and the council this time. Promise me you'll keep yourself safe… for me."
A look of understanding flashed in his eyes as he swallowed. He was never good at making promises, but the way Lucy spoke and the way she was nearly pleading for him to listen, he couldn't tell her no. He nodded, almost without realizing what he was agreeing to. He repeated her words in her head, intent on staying true to his word.
"All right," he said, "I promise."
Lucy sighed in relief, glad he agreed and that she was able to keep her feelings at bay. She breathed a small 'thank you' in response.
"I just wish the council didn't have you so far away from me tonight," Natsu muttered.
Lucy felt touched at his words, smiling in response. She couldn't say she didn't feel the same, wanting nothing more than to be by his side tonight. If only they knew what the night had in store for them.
X
Hello ◡̈
100 year quest is next month, AHHHH! I'm so excited. Let me know what you think of the story so far! Your review is my motivation to update quick :)