Master Makarov wrung his hands in nervousness and worry. Today was the one year and 363rd day since Zora had left on her mission. And today of all days, the guild had been smashed to bits by Phantom Lord. Thankfully, everyone had gone home for the night and nobody was inside or there would have been some serious wounds.
Makarov was infuriated. He wanted nothing more than to find Jose and make sure he couldn't wake up to see tomorrow, but no, he can't get his guild punished by the council. That lead him to the question, what could he do? Easy… drink himself into a stupor and hopefully find the funds to rebuild the guild.
Natsu was of course ranting about revenge among some of the others in the guild. They were yelling wanting revenge, but Makarov saw past the surface emotion and saw the pain, the hurt. The more he saw, the more it drove him to drink. Makarov made sure to make a mental note to Mira and give her something to thank her for looking out for him in this state.
As the guild drank to soothe their pained hearts, one mage in particular, sniffed the air loudly. Natsu recognized the scent but he couldn't place it. As he tried to calculate who in the world that scent belonged to, Japanese cherry blossoms with a hint of vanilla. Then he had a sudden rush of remembrance in his brain and just as he was gonna shout who was coming in the guild basement doors flew open to reveal a familiar voluptuous blonde wearing a leather sleeveless zip up vest with dark skinny jeans with leather combat boots. To top it all off her hair was every direction possible.
"Heard you son of bitches are at war." She blurted.
"ZORA!" The entire guild erupted jumping towards her, tackling her to the ground.
They continued to hug her saying how much they missed her. Tears overflowed from everyone's eyes as they rejoiced in their now returning mage. Zora however, had one eye out for one tall blonde mage. As she was returning hugs and scoping out the basement she found one inebriated Master Makarov.
"um, whose Zora?" Lucy mused out loud causing the said mage to saunter over to the blonde celestial wizard.
"Zora Tapati, The guild's holder of the foulest mouthed wizard." She held out her hand to the younger mage. Lucy stared at it for a moment as if scared to catch the "cussing".
"Holy shit girl! It's a hand, not a fucking rabid dragon." Zora laughed.
Lucy quickly shook her hand finding it to be a very firm handshake for that of a woman. It was even firmer than Erza's. Zora smiled at the girl and smiled as the two made idle chit chat.
"Oh Zora your beauty is brightening the guild with your radiance." Loke oozed through his seductive smile.
"Yeah Loke, and I shoot rainbows outta my ass." She laughed. "I'm pretty sure I bring the uncouth to the guild"
"Don't be like that Zora." Mira said as she passed by giving alcohol to the now happy guild mates, "I think your language is very descriptive."
"Mira, you're a fucking saint. Don't ever stop." Zora cooed. "Did you stock up on my favorite Rum?"
"Angel Piss?"
"Yeah that one! Can you bring me a bottle?" Zora asked.
Mira promptly brought it out to Zora, "on the house to your safe return!"
Zora strolled over to where Makarov was sitting on the bar and calmly took the stool on his left. "Where's Laxus?"
"On a mission with his team, The Thunder Legion." He said with a blush tinting his cheeks and a chuckle. "You know he kept his promise to you. Not one guild member has been harmed."
She nodded her head. How she missed her blonde childhood friend. He stayed up all night with her when she had nightmares, and he had patience when she acted childish to him. Laxus was a saint to her. However to anybody else, he was the moody angst ridden teenager. Zora never could wrap her mind around it, but maybe he somehow inadvertently pushed his anger for his father onto the rest of the guild since, it did push his father away from him.
Zora took another swig of the sweet alcohol. Feeling a bit light headed and tipsy, she turned to Makarov, "Hey Gramps."
He turned his head towards her with an eyebrow raised.
"My mission didn't go well." She confessed.
"How so my child?" Gramps said with worry.
"I don't want to talk about it. Maybe another day Gramps. I just thought you would like an update." She responded looking away, ashamed.
"Whenever you want to talk my child I am here. No matter the time or the day I will be here." Gramps said looking at Zora with a worry etched into his features.
"Is it okay if I crash here tonight?"
"No! Your family! No way will I ever let you sleep here." Makarov objected.
"But where will I get to sleep?"
"Here, Take these." He handed her some keys that she didn't recognize. "They are keys to Laxus's house. He still has a room set up and waiting for you."
"Okay thanks Gramps!" She asked Gramps for directions and he told her how to get there.
She left the guild saying her goodbyes and ignoring the people wanting her to stay with them. Opening the basement doors, she smelt the air; it smelled like booze and crisp autumn. Zora loved autumn. When the colors are changing, the world is littered with reds, oranges, and yellows. It brightens up the world.
Zora walked in the direction of Laxus's house with keys in hand. Her combat boots made echoes on the pavement. Something just felt off to her. She felt like someone was watching her from the shadows. Her pace picked up as she now briskly walked to Laxus's house.
If she was right, she couldn't go to Laxus's house, which would only lead her stalker to the place she was going to rest. She turned into the next alley. Zora repeated the pattern of going into alley to the next sharp turn, hoping to lose her tail.
Her pace slowed and soon she heard familiar voices.
"Levy, you are going to be safe with Droy and I." Jet said.
Zora quickly climbed on top of a building. If her stalker lost her what if it went after team Shadowgear?
The completely oblivious mages were laughing and walking together, the usual Jet and Droy were fighting over Levy and Levy was just laughing it off. Zora stealthily followed them until she saw a shadow on the roof of a nearby house. Zora didn't think, she just ran towards the offending shadow. Then she saw him leaping off the roof towards shadowgear for a sneak attack. Zora was just in time to catch him with a kick to the jaw and send him flying into a building.
Team Shadowgear looked up at Zora with fear in their eyes. "Run, get out of here!" Zora demanded.
"No we can't leave our friends to face him alone!" Levy yelled.
"Just get the fuck outta here! Get help!" Zora yelled.
Team Shadowgear nodded and soon ran off. Thank Mavis. Now I can focus on this fucker by myself.
"That was a cheap shot," The attacker chuckled to Zora as he stood up from the few bricks that fell from the wall. "But it doesn't bother me. You'll just have to hurt a little more for that."
He charged with a fist outstretched. Zora didn't move. It was just a fist she would wait until he got closer and then kick him into oblivion.
Her idea didn't unravel like it was supposed to. Zora stood there waiting for the perfect opportunity, but the dark haired man said, "Iron Dragon Slayers; Iron Club!" Thus, a gigantic club of iron clipped her on the jaw and sent her into a nearby building, taking down the entire wall. The Iron Dragon Slayer smiled maliciously watching the blonde slowly get back to her feet.
"You son of a bitch, that actually hurt." She fully stood up brushing some rubble off of her. "Now I'm really gonna' kick your ass!"
Zora charged towards her offender and he raised his fist to punch her she slid into a crouch dodging his fist to swing her feet out from underneath her to sweep the man off his feet. While he was on the ground she took the offensive and started to punch him in the face. The man recovered quickly and Zora only got two punches in. It was a small amount, but at least it was something. Zora jumped back to a safe distance while the man got off the ground.
"I've studied everyone in Fairy Tail, but your name wasn't in my file. Who are you?" the man asked looking straight into Zora's eyes..
Zora took this moment to look into her attackers eyes. Using her telepathy she took a peek at his thoughts.
Shit! My legs still hurt from that kick! Who is this chick anyway and why does she seem familiar? She is hot though. Too bad she is on the other team.
"Hey asshole! Keep your thoughts out of the gutter!" Zora yelled furiously. What a pig.
"What?" He yelled in shock. "Did I say that out loud?"
"No you overgrown teenager you didn't! I am Zora of Fairy Tail and I have recently come back from a long ass trip. That's why I wasn't on your fucking file of my guild." She fumed.
"I remember you. You're the child Makarov took in. Jose would be extra happy if he knew I made you the message." He remarked with an evil smirk. "You are about to face Black Steel Gajeel of Phantom Lord."
"I don't give a fuck what you're going to try to do, or who the fuck you are, but I'm gonna kick your ass!" Zora promised with an excited smile.
"Gihi" was all her attacker chuckled before he charged. A beam of iron zoomed towards Zora's face, but she dodged it before she ran towards him and landed a punch on his face effectively knocking him back a couple steps. Gajeel retaliated with "Iron Dragon's Drill!"
The speed of this attack wasn't what Zora was expecting and it hit her head-on sending her flying through the air and smacking right into a brick building making an indent with her body. Gajeel ran up and while she was stunned he kicked her in the gut laughing.
Zora slowly got up and charged at Gajeel. There's nothing I can do. I haven't siphoned anyone's power; I'm practically defenseless against him. Zora stood up and summing her strength she landed a punch right into his knee making him fall into a kneeling position. Then Zora roundhouse kicked him in the jaw and sent his whole body sliding across the pavement.
"What's your magic power? You have yet to use it, doe eyes." He chuckled out standing up.
"Did you just fucking call me a doe?" She wailed.
"Yeah I did. Right before you're going to get hit with an attack your eyes go real wide. It's actually pretty amusing… I want to see more of it." He finished darkly.
Gajeel charged at the now pissed off mage. They battled with Gajeel using his Dragon Slayer power and Zora dodged and relied on her physical strength to save her.
As Zora ran at Gajeel full force, Gajeel attacked with Iron Dragons Roar and Zora was blown back by the strength and force of the roar causing her to hit her head on the wall she flew into. Immediately she felt something warm coming down her face but ignored it. She tried to stand up but dizziness and nausea would attack her which caused her to only stumble and fall back down.
Gajeel slowly was walking to her. Zora frantically was trying to get up, much to her attackers dismay she finally rose to her feet.
"I won't go down that easily." She said smirking.
"Actually, I doubt that." He boasted. "Your head is bleeding a lot. It won't be long until you pass out."
"You son of a bitch." Zora swore. It was true. She was starting to get dizzy from blood loss just sitting there and didn't know how long she had to fight. Zora was unsteady on her feet but wouldn't give up. No fucking way am I gonna lay down and let this fucktard beat me into oblivion.
She charged mustering all the remaining strength she had left. Gajeel saw threw this attack and used an iron fist to knock her back on the ground. He didn't give her a chance to get back up and started to pummel her. In the face, chest, stomach and anywhere else, it didn't matter to him.
Zora felt every punch and all the damage he inflicted on her body, but she didn't make a sound. She had been in this situation before; at the mercy of your enemy. Gajeel didn't stop, but then he started yelling, "Scream for me. Let me hear your screams of pain." As he continued to beat the blonde haired mage senseless.
Yet with all the pain, the siphon mage didn't let the Iron Dragon Slayer hear her screams. She kept silent and that pissed of the Slayer even more. "I'll make you scream one day." He vowed before punching her in the face, breaking her nose, and knocking her out.
Gajeel grimaced as he picked up the broken and bleeding mage off the ground. He didn't want to do this. Jose made him. Gajeel needed work and Phantom gave him work, Jose ran Phantom so he really didn't have a vote in the matter. So he did the dirty work. He made himself enjoy it to make it easier, but all it did was made him hate it more.
He took the blonde to the middle of town and started pinning her up to the tree with his own iron bars. Her blood was still dripping off of her onto the grass, but to Gajeel's twisted mind, it was beautiful. His iron with her blood; it was a masterpiece and he was the master sculptor. He chuckled as he walked away with a mental image of his master piece as he walked back to Phantom Lord in the middle of the night.
The entire guild was crowded around the tree that Zora was pinned up against. Everyone saw the brutality that Phantom Lord could cause. Master Makarov had a hard time not just screaming and crying for one of his children. What they didn't expect was for her to crack her eyes open and look right into master's eyes.
"Are Levy, Jet and Droy okay?" she croaked out.
"They are fine child." Master Makarov said.
Zora looked around her surroundings till she saw one pissed of fire dragon slayer. "Natsu…" she started and he walked over to her. "May I borrow your Dragon Slayer powers, since they allow me to heal faster?"
"Here Zora." He said compassion filling his eyes. He started to peel the iron bars off of her and asked Gray to help him. When they finally got all the bars off, Gray caught her limp form and laid her on the grass. Natsu sniffed the bars while Gray assessed the damage. Gray saw a bunch of bruises and scratches that would heal on their own, but the head wound he knew she would have to get that stitched up. The head gash was about two inches long and trickling blood now, the edges of the wound had begun to clot.
Natsu spoke up, "The same person who wrecked the guild hall is the one who did this to Zora." Natsu walked over Zora and watched as Mira and Gray began to work to stitch her head wound closed.
"Son of a bitch!" Zora grunted, while Mira stitched and Gray held the flesh together for her. "He only got the best of me because I hadn't siphoned off of anybody. I couldn't siphon off of him because he uses damned ranged attacks along with his fucking physical strength of a Dragon Slayer." She said angrily.
Natsu's ears perked up, "Dragon Slayer?"
"Yeah that damn Iron bastard. He's so fucking full of himself, even has a damn nickname, 'Black Steel Gajeel'" She mocked his name at the end tilting her head to the side and sticking her tongue out.
Makarov turned to his children and announced, "They can destroy our guild hall, but they cannot hurt my children! Today Fairy Tail takes the fight to Phantom Lord!"