Chapter 10
Phantom Lord
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Change
"What happened here...?" Erza asked as she studied the building.
"Phantom." The group turned around and looked a Mira. "It's mortifying, but they got us."
"Mira!" Elfman ran over to his sister. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." Mira told him as he noticed Natsu. "I'm so glad you're okay, Natsu. I was worried they might have gotten you."
"The only thing I saw was some fire Vulcans." Natsu said, never taking his eyes off the building. "So, Phantom did this...?!"
"Yes. The masters waiting for you all in the basement." Mira said as she led the group through the broken guild hall to the storage room below.
"Natsu's back!" Macao shouted, raising their spirits a little. "So are Erza and Elfman."
"Did you see what those punks did to our guild hall!?" Nab asked.
"I saw..." Natsu nodded.
"I say we go and smash their guild hall!" Max shouted.
"Yo." A drunk Makarov spoke up. "Welcome back, Natsu, Erza."
"This isn't happy hour, gramps!" Natsu shouted.
"Oooh, you're right Natsu." Makarov put his beer down and looked at Gray. "What were you thinking Gray, taking an S-class job without permission?"
"We can worry about that later!" Natsu shouted. "The guild hall has been completely destroyed!"
"No need to get yourselves all worked up." Makarov giggled out. "It's not the end of the world. This is as far as those idiots'll go. Why'd they even bother attacking an empty guild hall?"
"Empty?" Elfman asked.
"It seems they did it after everyone had left." Mira told the group.
"Well, I suppose we should be thankful for that." Erza said.
"There's no need to get cross with someone that resorts to cowardly tactics." Makarov said. "Leave them be."
"What!?" Natsu asked as he punched a create next to him open. "How can you say that!? We can't let them get away with this!"
"This discussion is over." Makarov said. "We'll take jobs from here 'til the upstairs is rebuilt."
"This isn't the time for jobs!" Natsu argued.
"Natsu, enough!" Makarov shouted as he spanked Lucy, thinking it was Natsu.
"And you spanked me because?" Lucy asked.
"Don't push me, master." Mirajane huffed out.
"My bad." Makarov chuckled out before jumping down and running away. "I gotta take a leak."
"How can you be so calm about this, gramps?" Natsu asked.
"Natsu, you and I both know that the master is worried." Mirajane spoke up. "But warfare between guilds is prohibited by the magic council."
"But they were the ones who attacked us first." Natsu said before sighing. "Then again, it doesn't matter as far as the councils concern."
"If the master's decision is to not retaliate, then we must honor it..." Erza said.
Night
Strawberry Street
Lucy walked down the street to her apartment, with Plue by her side. "This has gotten serious, hasn't it Plue?"
"The only good thing is we got away without any punishment." Lucy smiled in relief of that fact. "I had no idea that Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail had such a rivalry. Honestly, I thought about joining them before I meet Natsu. Their reputation almost matches Fairy Tail's for being crazy."
They arrived at her apartment building and walked up the stairs to her room. "But I'm glad I choose this guild." She arrived at her door and started to open it. "Because Fairy Tail is the beeesstt!" She screamed as she saw Erza, Gray and Happy sitting around her table.
"Hello." They all cheered as she entered.
"What's going on here!?" Lucy shouted.
"Sorry I'm late." She turned around to see Natsu walk through the door, with a bag on his back.
"You are not coming in!" Lucy swung her suitcase at Natsu, nailing him right in the gut. "Why are you all here!?"
"Seeing as our guildhall was attacked, that means there are Phantom Lord members in town." Erza explained. "Meaning they might know where we live."
"What!?" Lucy was terrified.
"They might attack us at home alone." Gray continued for the redhead. "That's why Mira said we should stay in groups for a while."
"That makes sense, I guess..." Lucy said.
"So everyone is having a slumber party." Happy added.
"You are an attractive teenage girl, after all." Erza said as Natsu sat next to her, sulking. " I wasn't thrilled with the idea of you being here alone with Natsu and Gray. I felt I could only relax if I stayed here as well."
"We shouldn't be relaxing." Natsu huffed out.
"Why were Natsu and Gray told to stay with me?" Lucy asked as Happy and Plue looked around the room.
"Whoa, you sure have a lot of dirty clothes." Happy exclaimed as he looked though Lucy's drawers while Plue sucked on a lollipop.
"Stay out of my stuff, or I'll skin you alive, furball!" Lucy shouted.
"Huh, what did you find, Plue?" Natsu asked as the spirit pulled out a box of sweets. "Nice. Can I have some?"
"Look, Erza, I found some frilly panties for you to wear." Happy said as the redhead looked over.
"Amazing... You wear things like this?" Erza asked as she rummaged through the drawer herself.
"You guys are being way too literal with the 'make yourselves at home'." Lucy complained as Gray jumped on her bed.
"We have a serious problem." Erza said as she recomposed herself. "You boys hygiene. I refuse to sleep in a room that reeks of sweat."
"Fine. I'll go shower." Natsu complained as he stood up. "Which way is the bathroom, Lucy?"
"That room." Lucy pointed to her left and Natsu walked through the curtain.
"What about you Gray?" Erza asked. "Are you gonna go go voluntarily, or do we have to bath together like when we were kids?"
"What kinda relationship do you guys have!?" Lucy shouted as Natsu turned on the shower.
A Nearby Street
"Are you sure this is okay?" Jet asked as he and his team walked down the road. "Wouldn't you feel safe with Laki and the others at the girls dorm?"
"We'll be fine." Levy told him, unaware of a dark figure watching them. "You two are more than enough to protect me, right?"
"Of course we are." Droy declared as the figure pounced on them.
Lucy's Apartment
"Okay, Gray, it's your turn." Lucy asked as she stepped out of the shower. "Gray?"
"No, I'm fine." He said from her desk.
"It's a shame." Erza, who was wrapped in a towel, said. "It was so relaxing."
"Glad to see you're all feeling so comfortable." Lucy complained.
"I suppose I should change." Erza said as her towel was replaced by Heart Kreuz pajamas. "Is this more appropriate?"
"Is that really how you change clothes!?" Lucy asked before sitting at her table next to Natsu. "Hey, Erza, do you have any idea why Phantom Lord just attacked us?"
"I don't know..." Erza told her. "We've had our fair share of scuffles in the past, but nothing this extreme."
"If master wasn't so scared, he could have blown them up by now." Natsu mumbled.
"You know master's not afraid of them, Natsu." Gray said with a stack of papers in his hand. "After all, he is one of the Ten Wizard Saints."
"I never gave you permission to read that!" Lucy shouted before grabbing the papers. "Gimme that."
"You can't just leave me with a cliffhanger." Gray said. "What happens to Iris?"
"I'm not telling." Lucy clutched her novel to her chest. "Besides, I already told Levy that she'd be the first to read it. So just wait your turn." She turned to Erza, who had her hand out as if demanding to read it. "What did I just say!?"
She put her papers away before turning back to Erza. "So, what's the deal with these Ten Wizard Saints?"
"It's the highest accolade a wizard can achieve." Erza explained. "Given by the magic council's chairman, it's a coveted title shared by the ten most powerful wizards on the continent."
"Really?" Lucy asked in shock.
"Master Jose of Phantom is also a member." Happy added.
'And so is he...' Erza thought as an image of Siegrain entered her head.
"He's just scared!" Natsu shouted as he slammed his palm into the table. "He thinks Phantom has too many members for us to handle!"
"I'm telling you that's not it." Gray said back. "You and I both know what Mira and the master said is right. They know what would happen if the two guilds went to war, and so do you. In order to protect the order of the magical world, we have to move on from this."
"Are they that strong?" Lucy asked scared.
"Honestly, yes." Natsu told her with disdain in his voice. "If we went to war with them, it be pretty even. Phantoms master, Jose, is a wizard saint like gramps, meaning he's on par with Makarov."
"They also have a group of wizards similar to our s-class called the Element Four." Erza added. "And they say their most formidable is Black Steel Gajeel. Presumably, he's the one behind the guild halls destruction. They call him the Iron Dragon Slayer."
"He's a Dragon Slayer!?" Lucy asked, horrified." "There are others besides Natsu!? Does that mean, he eats iron?"
Phantom Lord Guildhall
"So, Gajeel..." One member spoke as the man stuffed his face with bolts and scrap metal. "I heard you messed up the Fairy Tail guildhall. I wish I could see their faces. 'Mommy, someone broke my playhouse.'"
He missed the angry look on Gajeel's face as he swung an iron pillar at the other member, launching him into the wall as the other members laughed. "How many times do I have to say I don't like to be bothered while I'm eating!?" Gajeel asked as he retracted his arm and it returned to normal. "Who cares about those little Fairies, anyway? We're the stronger guild."
"The die has been cast." A new figure walked onto the balcony overlooking the members. "I complement you good work, Gajeel."
"You're too lenient, master." Gajeel said back. "Those chumps won't be lured out of their cages with just that, so I left them another present."
"Very good, Gajeel." Jose said with a wicked tone. "Take extra care that no harm falls to that one, if you please."
The Next Morning
Southgate Park, Magnolia
A massive crowd had gathered in front of the tree that sat in the center of the park.
"Excuse us." Erza spoke up as she and the team marched through the crowd. "We're from their guild. Please let us through."
They reached the front and stared in horror at Team Shadowgear, beaten to a pulp and left on the tree, with the Phantom Lord mark painted on Levy's stomach.
"Levy!" Lucy shouted in concern.
"Jet. Droy..." Gray said in shock.
"Phantom did this..." Natsu said as he shook in anger.
From the back of the crowd, Makarov walked up and stared at Levy in anger. "Pride can be nursed and guild halls can be rebuilt..." He started as he gripped his staff tighter. "But I will not let harm come to my children without reproductions!" He snapped his staff in half, scarring Lucy as his magic power flailed around him. "This means war."
Magnolia Hospital
Lucy stared at Team Shadow Gear in shame and anger. "This is too cruel..." She said as she stared out the window to the guild hall. "How could they do this?"
2 Weeks Ago
"So, Lucy, you're writing a novel, is that right?" Levy asked as she leaned in towards the blonde.
"So it got out, huh?" Lucy asked dejected. "I knew I couldn't trust that cat."
"Oh, I'm being rude." Levy realized. "I didn't introduce myself. My name's Levy McGarden, but just Levy is fine, okay?" She pointed behind her to two men. "My friend in the hat is Jet. And the other one is Droy. We're all on the same team."
"Oh, that's cool..." Lucy said.
"I'm horrible at writing myself, but I love reading!" Levy continued. "Think I could read your novel some time?"
"Well,..." Lucy mumbled. "It's not something I can show people just yet..."
"What do you mean?" Jet asked. "There's no point in writing a novel if no one gets to see the thing."
"Some people say that being a writer is like showing your butt to the world." Droy added, making Lucy cover her butt.
"You won't get far by being embarrassed." Levy said. "Show me! Please show me! And I don't mean your butt, so don't get freaky on me."
"Well, i-it's not done yet..." Lucy confessed.
"Then when you are done writing it, can I be the first one to read it?" Levy begged.
"O-okay..." Lucy said.
"It's a promise then." Levy said back.
"What they've done is unforgivable..." Lucy mumbled as tears filled her eyes. "They will pay..."
Oak Town
Phantom Lord Guildhall
"This is hilarious!" One member laughed as Gajeel told them what he did. "Those Fairy punks got what was coming to them!"
"Well, I gotta go." Another member stood up and headed towards the door.
"Meeting a girl?" His friend asked.
"Yeah. Not too shabby looking either." The first said back. "Though she's just a client. When I threatened her, she doubles the reward for me."
"I beat I could have made her triple it." His friend chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." The first waved off the comment as he reached the door. The door exploded, sending the man flying backwards in to the guild. The members looked at where the door once was as the smoke began to clear. Natsu stood in front, with the entire guild behind him.
"WE ARE FAIRY TAIL!" Makarov shouted as the two guilds charged at each other.
"Tell me..." Natsu started as he ran toward them. "Who wants to play with fire!?" He used his Wing Attack to send members flying overhead as the fight ensued.
"Purple Net!" Macao casted his spell, trapping Phantom members in his fire. "Now, Wakaba!"
"Got it." Wakaba chuckled as smoke left his pipe. "Smoke Crush." The smoke hardened into fists that pummeled the trap opponents.
"Guns Magic:..." Alzack shouted as members charged him. He fired is magic pistol in rapid motion, blasting them with static power. "That one's my Spark Shot."
His celebration was short lived as a member snuck up behind. Fortunate, Bisca saw him and blasted him with her rifle.
"Nice shooting, Bisca." Alzack said.
"Getting sloppy there, Al." Bisca joked as she looked down her scope. "Target locked." A green seal appeared at the end of her scope as it traced along Phantom Members. "Homing Shot!" She pulled the trigger and a magic bullet fired, seeking and hitting the targets she designated.
"Get Makarov!" One Phantom member shouted as a mob charged the master. The master opened his eyes as his magic increased his size, leaving the the mob in horror as he crushed them like bugs. "M-Monster."
"YOU FOOLS BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELVES WHEN YOU ATTACKED THIS MONSTER'S CHILDREN!" Makarov roared. "ARE YOU FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT HUMAN LAWS WILL PROTECT YOU FROM MY RAGE!?"
"S-So powerful..." One member mumbled in horror.
"Their members aren't jokes either." Another added as Erza slashed a group of wizards. "These guys are insane!"
"I'm starting to think we made a mistake." A third added
"Pict Magic: Wild Pigs!" Reedus painted pigs on himself before a magic seal launched them into the mob around him.
"Wood-Make Magic! The Dam of Shy Love!" Laki slammed her hands into the ground and wooden tools erupted from beneath, smashing the Phantom members.
"What does that even mean, lady!?" A member asked as he flew through the air.
Even Happy got in the action, beating people with a wooden club and various foods.
"JOSE!" Makarov roared. "SHOW YOURSELF, YOU COWARD!"
"Tell me!" Erza shouted as she Requipped into her Flame Empress Armor and slashed her sword, blasting them with fire. "Where can I find Gajeel and the Element Four!?"
"Ah, the legend herself." Gajeel said sarcastically as he watched the fight from the rafters. "Titania Erza. Looks like Laxus and Mystogan are too scared to play, or maybe they just don't care. Either way, Master Jose knew just how this was gonna go down to the letter. There are some good fights, for a guild of weaklings."
Magnolia
"Geez, how could everyone just leave without me?" Lucy asked herself as she walked down the street. "Then again, someone had to keep an eye on Levy and the boys so, I guess it's up to me."
She stopped walking when she noticed rain pouring around her. "Weird, the weather man didn't say anything about a sun shower." She looked forward and panicked slightly as a woman approached her. "Who are you?"
"Drip, drip, drop..." The woman calmly said as she walked forward. "Juvia brings the rain. It's always with me."
"Okay..." Lucy said as the woman walked by her.
"And what sort of woman are you?" Juvia asked.
"The normal kind..." Lucy answered nervously.
"Drip, drip, drop." Juvia pulled out an umbrella and opened it over her head. "I had fun. Farewell..."
"What was that about?" Lucy asked confused.
"No, no, no." A new voice spoke up, scaring Lucy. "No, no, no." The two women looked behind them as the ground rose up. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no." The ground changed color until it revealed a man with green hair in a brown tuxedo. "I bid a Bon jour, mademoiselle."
"Another weirdo!?" Lucy asked as the man waved around.
"Juvia, you can't allow yourself to be distracted from the task at hand." The man said as he slid over to Juvia. "My monocle whispers things to me. It tells me that this woman before us is our precious sible."
"Is she?" Juvia asked.
"Sible... That means target." Lucy mumbled.
"Pardon my manners." The man said as he bowed. "I am Sol, but you may call me Monsieur Sol or Sol of the Earth. We've come from the great Phantom Lord to retrieve you."
"Phantom!?" Lucy shouted shocked.
"Correct." Sol said before pointing to Juvia. "Juvia here is also a member of the Element Four, known as Juvia of the Great Sea."
"You're the one's who attacked my friends, aren't you?" Lucy asked, reaching for her keys, before she realized she was being trapped in a bubble.
"A reasonable guess, but incorrect." Sol said as he twirled his mustache. "That was moisure Gajeel, as well as the renovation of your meager guild hall."
"What are you doing!?" Lucy shouted from inside the bubble.
"Don't waste your energy." Juvia said. "Juvia's Water Lock can't be broken."
Lucy soon ran out of air and fell unconscious. "Sa magnifique!" Sol cheered.
"Do not worry." Juvia told the unconscious body as the key ring fell out of the bubble. "We have explicit orders not to kill you, Miss Lucy Heartphillia."
Oak Town
Phantom Lord Guildhall
"Take this!" Phantom wizards shouted as they fired their spells, creating an explosion of fire that Natsu quickly ate.
"Oh, yeah." Natsu smirked. "Now I got a fire in my belly."
"What the hell!?" One phantom member asked in shock. "Did he just eat fire!?"
"You don't think he's one of those, do you?..." Another member asked in fear.
"I'm gonna burn you to a crisp." Natsu declared as he brought his hands to his lips. "Fire Dragon Roar!" He blasted the group with his roar, leaving the Phantom wizards tinted black.
"Ice-Make: Lance!" Gray shouted as he blasted a group of wizards into the air as Erza Requipped into her Black Wing armor and took out a different group.
"Wood-Make: The Distance Between the Two is Forever!" Laki chanted as she created swaying feet that stomped her opponents.
"I still don't know what you're talking about, lady!" A Phantom lord wizard shouted before being stepped on by a foot.
"Guns Magic: Mud Shot!" Alzack shouted as he fired a bullet that trapped foes in mud.
"Requip!" Bisca shouted as her rifle was replaced by a shotgun. "Magic Shotgun: Wide Shot!" She took aim at a group and pulled the trigger, creating magic circles around them that blasted them with force.
"Card Magic!" Cana shouted as she held up three tarot cards while a group charged her. "Lightning, Reverse Tower, Lovers. Thunderbolt's Fate!" The cards glowed before lightning shot out of them, blasting the phantom wizards.
"Ring Magic: Twister!" Loke adjusted his ring as a tornado shot out of it, sending Phantom wizards flying.
"Rrrrawwhh!" Elfman roared as his arm changed from human to reptilian and punched several Phantom wizards into the wall. "This is what being a man is all about!" He shouted as he punched more Phantom wizards.
"That guys a brute." One onlooker said. "What's wrong with his arm?"
"It's Take-Over Magic." Another one told the first.
"Why would anyone let a monster take over their arm?" A third asked.
"You guys, that's Elfman!" The first one spoke up.
"I've heard of him." The second added. "He kills monsters then absorbs their power. They call him 'Beast Arm' Elfman."
Natsu charred more enemies while Gray froze them, and the two jumped back to back. "Not too bad, snowman." Natsu told his rival.
"Same to you, ya pyro." Gray said back.
"Erza!" Makarov shouted as climbed the stairs, knocking out anyone in his way. "I leave the rabble to you!"
"Yessir." Erza responded.
"Jose is probably hiding on the top floor." Makarov mumbled as he neared the door. "When I find him, I'll make him wish he was never born."
"Take care." Erza whispered as Makarov destroyed the door to the upstairs and went to look for Jose.
"Hee Hee..." Gajeel chuckled as he watched from the rafters. "Now that their midget master is gone, I won't have to hold back anymore." He jumped off the rafters and headed into the fight.
He crashed onto the the top of the bar, catching everyone's attention. "It's him." Erza whispered. "The Iron Dragon Slayer. 'Black Steel' Gajeel."
"You attacked Levy!" Nab shouted as he jumped up, ready to punch the man. Gajeel smirked as his arm turned into a pillar of iron, sending Nab to the ground, as well as taking out some Phantom wizards.
"What the?" Gray asked as he watched. "He just knocked out his own guild mates with that attack."
"Come and get me, scum!" Gajeel jeered as he withdrew his arm. "Iron Dragon Slayer, Gajeel at your service."
"I might be scum..." Elfman charged ahead. "But I'm more of a man than you will ever be!" His arm glowed before it was replaced by stone as he brought it forward for a punch.
Gajeel raised his arm and blocked the attack. "You're name's Elfman, right?" He brought his other fist forward to punch, but Elfman dodged. He turned his foot into an iron club, but Elfman caught the spell. "Not bad..."
"That's because I'm a real man." Elfman declared.
"Is that so?" Gajeel asked as leg pillar started to bulge. "Well, I wonder how a real man deals with this!" The bulges turned into iron pillars that stuck nearby Phantom wizards.
"How could you!?" Elfman asked as he watched. "You attacked your own men!?"
"Because I knew it would distract you!" Gajeel said as he turned his hand into an iron pillar and struck Elfman in the face, knocking him back. As Elfman fell, Natsu jumped off him and punched Gajeel in the face, sending him flying into the bar.
"Holy crap!" One member of phantom shouted. "Someone actually hit Gajeel!?"
"I didn't think it could be done." Another added.
Gajeel spat as he stood up and looked at Natsu, who ignited his hands. "The name is Natsu." He declared. "I'm Fairy Tail's Dragon Slayer." Gajeel smirked at his opponent. "Elfman, leave this guy to me."
"No way." Elfman complained. "First you use me as a springboard, and now you wanna steal my man to man fight?"
"Iron Dragon Club!" Gajeel didn't wait for an answer and turned his hand into an iron pillar, which slammed into Natsu.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted concerned.
"You destroyed our guild hall..." Natsu muttered as he grasped the pillar. "And you attacked Levy and her team." He lit his hands on fire as he spoke. "I'll make you burn!" He declared as he flipped Gajeel by the club. Gajeel flipped in the air and bounced off the rafters, sending him back towards Natsu, only to be met by a fist of fire to the face, sending him crashing into the wall.
"That's our Natsu." Macao said as he watched. "I'd hate to be that other guy."
"He's quite the wizard." Erza added.
"Alright, I guess you're manlier than I thought." Elfman said in defeat. "I'll let you have this one. Just promise me you'll-"
"You bet." Natsu intrupted. "I'll beat him to a pulp."
Gajeel shot his hand out of the rubble and pulled himself out. "Not bad, but I'm still standing."
"For now." Natsu said.
Gajeel ran towards Natsu and kicked him with an iron pole, knocking Natsu into a crowd of Phantom wizards.
"That hurt." Gray said as he watched.
"This is pretty crazy." Loke added.
"What's the matter?" Gajeel asked as he approached the rubble Natsu was buried under. "You can dish it out, but you can't take it?"
The rubble erupted into flames as Natsu stood up. "It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than that to keep me down."
"Do you actually believe you can beat me, firebreath?" Gajeel asked as a magic seal appeared infront of his arm.
"I don't believe it, I know I can." Natsu replied as he ignited his own fist.
"We'll see about that!" Gajeel turned his arm into a club and sent it towards Natsu, who caught it with one hand.
"Your iron beams can't even touch me!" Natsu shouted as he gripped the beam. "You better start stepping up your game!" His heat turned the iron malleable, crushing it slightly in his grasp.
"The rumors really are true." Gajeel said. "You are stronger than you look." He retracted his hand, returning it to normal. "That actually burns a little. Is that all, Salamander?"
"That was nothing but a friendly hello." Natsu declared. "From one dragon to another."
"Well, now that the formalities are out of the way..." Gajeel charged forward, his arms two metal clubs. The two dragons traded blows until Gajeel kicked Natsu away. He skidded backwards on the ground, holding his gut.
"Man, he's tough..." Natsu mumbled as he looked up. Gajeel jumped into the air and brought his foot down. Natsu ignited his fist to punch him, only to have Gajeel use his other arm to bounce back up. He flipped upside down and spikes jutted out of his heels, letting him hang upside down. Natsu followed suit and threw a punch. Gajeel tried to block it, only to be sent flying by the force of the attack. "How do you like that?"
"Lucky shot, punk." Gajeel said as he hung upside down. "Don't think it will last." The two stared at each other as the building shock around them. Gajeel looked confused, while Natsu smiled.
"Everything's shaking." Wakaba smirked as the Phantom members panicked.
"I guess they're going at it." Macao said.
"This is gonna get ugly..." Gray said as he stared at the ceiling.
"What's going on?" One Phantom member asked, scared.
"This is what happens when someone makes Master Makarov angry." Cana explained.
"It's called the Giants Wrath." Loke continued.
"No one will be able to stop him now." Nab added as clutched his arm.
"He's gonna bring the whole building down on us." A Phantom member said in a panic.
"When he gets angry, Master Makarov is even more of man." Elfman added.
"Prepare to fight!" Erza ordered. "We cannot lose as long as Master Makarov is with us."
Upper Levels
Makarov walked down the hallway with purpose, his magic power flailing around, destroying everything in his way. He blasted a door of its hinges, revealing Jose sitting on a throne. He walked over to the other master, breaking everything around him. "JOSE!"
"Look what the cat dragged in." Jose said under his breath.
"WHAT THE HELL DO THINK YOU'RE DOING, ATTACKING FAIRY TAIL!?" Makarov asked in rage. "ANSWER ME!"
"I haven't seen you in some time, Makarov." Jose said. "It must've since that conference six years ago. I was so stumped that time... Clearly, I overdid it with the alcohol."
Makarov didn't care for the small talk and launched his expanded fist forward, seemingly crushing Jose and his throne. "I'm not here for small talk. I want answers and I want them now!"
The dust cleared revealing Jose in a different spot before static like interference caught Makarov's eyes. "A projection?" He asked as his rise returned to his side. "You coward. I should have figured you'd flee at the first signs of trouble."
"It's not cowardice." Jose explained. "I merely wish to avoid a conflict between two of the Wizard Saints. In lue of that mess, I prefer to out think my opponents."
"Why are you hiding!?" Makarov shouted. "Come and face me like a man." Jose merely smirked as another projection appeared on the floor. "Lucy!? Why!?"
"You mean she hasn't told you?" Jose asked. "I'm surprised Miss Lucy Heartfilia never told you the truth."
'Heartfilia?' Makarov asked himself as Jose prepared to cast a spell. "No! Don't!" He started to sprint forward, unaware of a large man behind him until it was too late. 'Where did he come from? I couldn't even feel his presence.'
"It's, so sad!" The man blubbered out as he cast a spell on Makarov, sending him crashing to the ground floor.
Everyone looked over to the crater created from the impact and saw green Makarov. The available Fairy Tail wizards rushed to his side, including Natsu.
'Damn it. I've seen this before.' He thought to himself. 'He's been forcefully drained of his magic power. But why? Was this their plan the whole time?' He jumped down from the rafters and huddled near the master, as did others.
"What happened to him?" Cana asked.
"I don't know." Gray said. "But I can't sense any magic power from him."
"Gray, are you saying he's just a regular old man?" Elfman asked.
"I don't get it." Gray said in confusion. "He's so powerful. How did they beat him?"
"The only way to find out is to go up there." Elfman said as he looked up.
"Their master has been defeated!" One Phantom wizard said.
"Seriously?" Another asked. "Guys, this means we can beat them. Without their master, they only have half their strength, and we have the Element Four and Gajeel."
'This is bad.' Erza thought as the Phantom wizards charged.
"Don't you dare start getting cocky!" Natsu shouted as he whipped a group of wizards away with his flames.
"We have to keep fighting!" Loke said.
"Take this!" Three Phantom wizards shouted as they combined their magic. "Tri-Element Combo Attack!" The three sent the spell flying towards Cana and it exploded. The dust cleared, revealing Macao had taken the blow for her.
"You can't do stuff like that." Erza heard Cana scold her drinking buddy as she looked out over the battle field.
'It's not only our fighting power, our low moral is causing us problems.' Erza wiped something from her eye before standing up. "RETREAT! EVERYONE, BACK TO THE GUILD!"
"No way!" Gray shouted back. "We can't just give up!"
"Men don't runaway!" Elfman added.
"I can still fight!" Macao said as purple flame left his finger. "Let's stay."
"We can't." Erza said. "We don't stand a chance against Jose! Now retreat! That's an order!"
The other members reluctantly obeyed as they ran towards the door. "That's right." Gajeel said as he watched upside down. "Run away like the cowards you are."
"As they run, their hearts fill with sorrow." Aria said from the same rafter.
"Aria." Gajeel flipped up next to the large man. "I see you're just as creepy as ever. I'm surprised you were able to beat that geezer."
"All apart of Master Jose's plan, but thank you!" He said back before crying.
"Why are you always crying?" Gajeel asked. "Cut it out. So, did we capture this Lucy girl?"
Natsu's ears twitched at the mention of the blonde's name. "We've confined her to at our headquarters." Aria said to Gajeel.
"What!?" Natsu roared, confusing Happy. "Gajeel!"
"Let's settle this some other time, Salamander." Gajeel said as Aria teleported them away.
"They kidnapped Lucy..." Natsu said, shocking Happy.
"Everyone out! Let's go!" Erza shouted as Fairy Tail wizards passed her.
"I'm not leaving now!" Gray shouted as he charged his magic. "These bastards have to pay for what they did to us!"
Erza placed her hand on his, and the two looked eyes. "Please..." She begged into his chest. "We have no other choice. Master's loss is just too big..." Gray reluctantly nodded and joined the retreating mob, unaware that they were sort a wizard and a cat.
One Phantom member chased after the group when a hand brought him to the ground. He looked over and nearly crapped his pants. "No... The Salamander, and that cat!"
"You got that right." Natsu said with evil in his eyes. "We need to talk."
"Please don't burn me!" The member begged.
Mountain Pass Past Phantom Lord
"Tell me, where is Lucy?" Natsu asked he dragged the man by his shirt.
"I don't know..." The Phantom wizard said. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you." He regretted his words when Natsu set him on fire.
"Start talking..." Natsu growled out. "If my friend is hurt, I might burn you to a crisp."
"Look, I don't know any one by that name!" The man shrieked in fear. "But our headquarters is just ahead. I'd bet my last jewel that this Lucy chick is in there!"
"Happy, you go on ahead." The cat nodded and flew towards the building. "Now, as for you..." Natsu pounded his fists together as he turned to his prisoner. "You're gonna tell me everything that you know, or else..."
Phantom Lord Headquarters
Lucy woke up in a dank cell, her hands tied together behind her back. "What the...? Where am I?"
"Good, you're awake." She turned her head around as a new voice spoke to her from behind the door. "I was starting to get worried."
"Who's there?" She asked as the door opened and Jose walked in.
"My name is Jose Porla. I'm the guild master of Phantom Lord." He informed her.
"You're with Phantom!?" She asked before she remembered that she was captured.
"I apologize for putting you in such a room, and being tied up must be degrading. But you're still a captive so please try to understand." Jose said in a smug voice.
"You jerks attacked my friend Levy!" Lucy shouted out. "Let me go! My friends are gonna come looking for me!"
"Hmm..." Jose ignored her. "Depending on level of cooperation, I'm full prepared to treat you like an honored guest rather than a meager prisoner."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucy asked. A centipede crawled on her leg and she freaked out! "A bug just touched me!"
"See?" Jose asked. "You don't really wanna stay in this jail. If you behave, we'll move you to a suite room."
"Why do you keep attacking us?" Lucy asked.
"'Us?'" Jose asked back. "Oh, you mean Fairy Tail?" A crooked smile graced his face. "It was a means to an end. Nothing more, nothing less."
"What!?" Lucy asked, enraged.
"Our true objective was to get a hold of a certain individual." Jose explained. "They happened to be a member of Fairy Tail, so if we have to wipe them off the map, so be it."
"Who are you talking about?" Lucy asked confused.
"My, my, you're a naive little girl." Jose chucked in amusement. "I almost can't believe that you're a daughter of the Heartphillia family." Lucy gasped as she realized what he was talking about. "Who else could it be? The daughter of the Heartphilia conglomerate, Lucy Heartphilia."
"How did you find out about that?" Lucy asked.
"You know, I'm surprised you never told your guild mates the truth." Jose confessed. "I don't understand why the daughter of one of the richest men in the country would undertake such cheap and dangerous jobs, but..."
"So, that's it..." Lucy interrupted. "You kidnapped me."
"No, no, nothing of the sort." Jose corrected her. "We're not looking for ransom money; we're just doing our job. It was your father that hired us to bring you home."
Lucy's eyes went wide as her father's face entered her mind. "You're lying... Why would he do that?"
"Why are you so confused?" Jose asked. "Any decent father would go looking for a daughter that ran away."
"There's nothing decent about him." Lucy huffed out. "Honestly, I'm surprised he even noticed I was gone. I'm never going back! I don't want anything to do with him!"
"What a troublesome young lady." Jose mumbled.
"Let me go at once." Lucy ordered.
"You're in no position to make demands." He said back.
"Please, I need to use the restroom." She told him.
"Do you really think I'd fall for that old excuse?" Jose asked unphased.
"Please, I can't hold it..." Lucy whispered.
"Go ahead." He pointed to a bucket sitting next to the wall, much to Lucy's shock. "Every trick has a counter."
"Fine, if I have to..." She said as she stood over the bucket.
"You're really gonna use it!?" Jose was shocked. Blinking a few times in disbelief, he turned around. "I have never met such a vulgar young lady! I'll turn around because I'm a gentleman."
Lucy smirked before raising her leg and kicked him as hard as she could in the groin. "Just because something is old, doesn't mean it won't work." She stepped over Jose and headed towards the door. "Take care!" She reached the door, only to met with the fact that she was eight stories high.
"Oops." Jose groaned as he stood. "I forgot to mention this is our sky prison." He reached the doorway, still holding his groin. "I must admit, you really did a number on me. But you're not going to get away with it. You will be punished."
Lucy turned around and weighed her options before closing her eyes and leaning back, making her fall of the ledge. Jose tried to grab her, but the pain took over and he collapsed again. 'I heard his voice.' She told herself. 'I'm sure, he's here!' "Natsu!
Natsu ran along the ground before jumping up and catching the blonde girl. He turned his back so he would crash into a nearby wall, kicking up dust and debris.
"Lucy fell from the sky!" Happy shouted as he flew over.
"Made it just in time..." Natsu mumbled from underneath Lucy.
"Thanks..." Lucy said before pushing off him. Natsu got behind her and undid her bonds.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Sorta..." Lucy said as she rubbed her wrists.
"Okay, we should head back to the guild." Natsu said. He took a few steps before noticing that Lucy wasn't following him. "Lucy?"
"I'm sorry..." She whispered out as tears left her eyes. "This is all my fault.. Everything that's happened is my fault... But I don't want to leave... Because I love being in Fairy Tail."
"Who said you have to leave?" Natsu asked. "You're one of us, you don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"Come on, let's go back to the guild." Happy added.
"Yeah, want me to carry you?" Natsu asked Lucy, who nodded and climbed onto his back. 'No one is taking you from me. I need you, to bring her back.'
Back in the tower, Jose let his power flare around him. "How dare you do that to me, you little bitch!"
IHonestly, this was the arc that put me in the 'Hate Lucy' camp. Everyone else has tragic back stories, and you want me to equate rich daddy issues to death. No, not buying it. Yes, Natsu has daddy issues too, but Igneel left him as a kid. He didn't run away from Igneel. Now, if she was abused by her father, that's a different story. But she wasn't, so I stand where I stand.
On a side note, Natsu knows what happened to Makarov because Hades found it a very useful torture method.
Forgive the rant, see you next chapter.
Betaread by digemsmack.