Coco: I can't believe I got another chapter done so soon, guys, but I guess I'm just in a Fairy Tail mood. I had an original arc planned, but decided to skip it since it had originally been planned to introduce a new character I had planned a while back. But I went with a different route and our newest character Blaze has already been introduced, so there's no point in doing the original arc anymore. But I do have other original arcs to come, which I hope you enjoy. Now, shall we begin the Phantom Lord, arc?

Rizzo stood next to Lucy with a sigh leaving the blonde's lips as Gray and Natsu argued over what job to take next. After the whole Galuna incident and being scolded by Master, the group needed time to relax. Even Rizzo just needed a day of relaxation after all that excitement, which is why she took a four day "vacation" from wizarding work. But now it was back to work since Lucy very loudly pointed out to Rizzo that she needed money for rent. Honestly, Rizzo could use some extra jewel too. Sure, she had enough for rent, but it never hurt to keep the numbers high when it comes to your bank account.

But when Gray and Natsu heard about the girls planning for another job, they jumped in. They invited themselves on the job—the one they hadn't even picked yet—and Rizzo didn't really mind. She was the one who said they should team up again after all.

Though Gray had pissed her off, she was still okay with even him joining. Lucy hadn't been so okay with it, but gave in. So, the group went to the board to pick a job, which is what led to the boys arguing over which one to take. Both had different choices and neither were budging.

"This is ridiculous." Lucy said as she frowned at the boys who were shouting at each other.

"Can't disagree with you there, Lulu." Rizzo said. "Right, Happy?"

"Aye!" Happy exclaimed then returned to eating his fish.

Lucy just sighed wondering when the two would stop arguing and pick a job. She should have known this would happen. She just wanted to take a simple job with Rizzo to earn some jewel for rent. She was starting to think that maybe she should have just gone on her own.

"Where's Erza when you need her?" Lucy asked. "I'm sure she could get these two in line."

"She's still away on that job she took a few days ago." Rizzo said. "Good riddance in my opinion."

Lucy sweat-dropped while seeing that Rizzo and Erza's relationship wasn't any better than Natsu and Gray's. Speaking of the boys, Lucy turned towards them.

"I'm telling you, Icy, that this job is better!" Natsu snapped. "It's got monsters!"

"And I'm telling you that it doesn't matter what the job is! What matters is the jewel!" Gray said. "We have to divide this amongst the four of us! And Lucy needs rent money, so my pick is obviously better since it's the higher reward!"

"Hey, you mean, the five of us, right?" Happy questioned.

Happy went ignored as the two boys glared at each other. This had the feline pouting.

"I have to agree with Gray, Natsu." Lucy said. "With four of us splitting the reward, we need the one with the most jewel out of the two."

Natsu looked at Lucy as if she betrayed him while Gray smirked in triumph. As Happy pouted even more at Lucy forgetting about him too, Natsu turned towards Rizzo hoping for some kind of backup.

"Frosty's job is obviously the more boring out of the two," Rizzo said getting a glare from Gray. "But I have to confess, Natsu, that the job there doesn't have enough jewel to make it worthwhile for any of us."

Natsu looked absolutely crushed at this point as he put the mission he had grabbed back up. Gray's smirk widened.

"I guess it's decided then." Gray said. "We're taking my job."

"Wrong." Rizzo said shocking the group—even Natsu.

"But you just said my pick is better!" Gray pointed out.

"No, I said Natsu's job didn't have enough jewel to make it worth it." Rizzo said. "And I called yours boring. I don't think that makes yours better, Icicle."

Gray's brow twitched wondering what the hell Rizzo was getting at. Did she have something better in mind? Rizzo reached between the boys to the board to rip a request off the board. She held it out towards the others to see.

"'Cave Crawler Removal'?" Lucy read the description.

"That's right." Rizzo said. "This job has some kind of mysterious cave monster and the reward is more than even the job Gray picked out. So, this has the jewel we need and there's a monster or even possible monsters to fight to keep us entertained."

Natsu grinned at the sound of monsters as Lucy sighed. She didn't want to deal with creepy cave critters, but the reward was nice. And it was a compromise so the boys would stop fighting and no one's feelings were hurt. Well, Gray might be a bit peeved about Rizzo's boring comment, but it's no different from usual.

"Then let's take this one!" Natsu said as Lucy took the request from Rizzo.

"Aye, sir!" Happy said as he jumped to his feet.

"Fine, whatever." Gray said.

"I guess it's settled then, right, Lulu?" Rizzo asked turning to grin at the blonde.

"…yeah, I guess so." Lucy said with a small chuckle.

She supposed they'd be fine all together. Though this team is also very destructive, so maybe she should still be worried. A shadow then fell over Lucy causing her to jump. She whirled around seeing Erza standing there. Gray and Natsu jumped at her arrival while backing away from each other. Rizzo frowned at Erza as she crossed her arms over her chest. Well, this was just great, wasn't it?

"Looks like I came home just in time." Erza said smiling. "I believe I'll join you."

Rizzo frowned even more at this. She knows she said she'd like to team up together again with the same group from Galuna Island, which included Erza, but she didn't mean so soon. She could only take the redhead in doses, and Rizzo fights against those doses too.

"I guess there's no way to talk you out of it, is there?" Rizzo grumbled.

Erza just chuckled at Rizzo's annoyed look as Lucy tried to figure out how this turned into such a large group mission. She didn't even plan to take such a mission either. She sighed. Things aren't going to go well…she just knows it.

Lucy sighed walking a bit ahead of her friends as they were returning from their mission. It had been completed successfully, but with too much flare than she had been looking for. Though she knew it'd be that way with the group of friends she has.

"Was that an awesome job or what?" Natsu asked laughing with a large smile on his face.

Lucy frowned back at him as he walked almost cockily down the streets of Magnolia with his hands behind his head.

"Well, the client sure seemed to think so." Happy said.

Rizzo sighed thinking the job was rather boring, but the others had seemed to enjoy it. She thought the cave monsters would have been more of a challenge. They disappointed her though. They were too easy to take down.

"Face it, you guys are lucky that I decided to come along." Gray said.

Rizzo and Natsu both frowned at Gray in unison as Lucy sighed. Well, here they go again.

"We're lucky you begged to come with us?" Natsu asked disbelievingly. "How do you figure?"

"Because you both were about as helpless as one of Erza's suitcases." Gray retorted.

Rizzo butt heads with Gray literally before Natsu could do it himself, and the ice wizard pressed his head down to bump his head back against hers.

"You better watch it, Frosty, or I'll pack you into a suitcase!" She threatened.

"Yeah!" Natsu added. "We'll pack you like a suitcase, Pal!"

Gray turned his head to look at Natsu, which had Rizzo falling forward. However, instead of letting her fall, Gray caught her into his arms—not even seeming to notice what he did. Just as she was about to push him away and snap at him for moving, Natsu and Gray bumped heads, which squished her in between them.

"That doesn't even make any sense!" Gray snapped.

They were then forced apart by Erza, which allowed Rizzo her personal space back. Erza told all three of them that was enough before telling Gray to get his clothes on. Gray gasped when realizing he was more than half naked.

"A bit of advice, Gray." Happy began. "Never get in a fight while in your underwear."

As Gray was freaking out about his missing clothes…again, Rizzo spotted them on the ground. She sighed while picking them up. She then threw them right in his face.

"Stupid." She snorted.

He glared at her though said nothing since Erza was watching them both sternly. He grumbled a bit though, which had Rizzo rolling her eyes. He started getting dressed as Lucy, who was holding Plue in one arm, turned to face them completely with a look of exasperated look on her face.

"I should have just found a job to do on my own." She grumbled.

"Aw, don't be that way, Lucy." Rizzo said chuckling. "I know the monsters were a bit boring, but we had some fun, right?"

"That's not the point!" Lucy snapped.

"Yeah, Lucy," Natsu agreed with Rizzo while ignoring Lucy's outburst. "Besides, we're Fairy Tail's strongest team, so we've got to stick together."

"Aye, sir!" Happy pipped up.

"And don't you forget it." Gray said.

"Yeah, Lulu, listen to your seniors, okay?" Rizzo suggested. "Stick with us and you'll go far."

Erza grinned with a small nod as Lucy looked at all of them in surprise. She then smiled as she hugged Plue probably too tightly.

"Yeah, we are!" She agreed.

Plue just continued shaking while not seeming bothered by the sudden death grip around his neck.

"No job is too tough." Natsu said. "Not for me, Rizzo, Erza, Happy, or old droopy-drawers here."

"Don't call me that." Gray said while surprisingly not snapping at Natsu.

Rizzo laughed nodding in agreement with Natsu as she put her arm around his shoulders, and he put his arm around her shoulders.

"We're quite the capable bunch." Erza said with a slight chuckle.

"Ture dat!" Happy added.

"You forgot about me!" Lucy snapped.

She then started marching off with her dearest friends following after her. Rizzo chuckled as Natsu grinned at Lucy.

"Ah, lighten up." Natsu said. "I'm just messing with ya, Loopy."

"Well, I don't appreciate it." Lucy said. "And that's not my name!"

She shot Natsu an annoyed look as she said this and he held up his hands in a surrendering manner. He didn't mean to upset her that much.

"Please forgive me." Erza said melodramatically. "I truly didn't mean to upset you. I won't let it happen again. If you would like, you may strike me now."

Lucy sweat-dropped at Erza's offer while certain it'd be a bad idea to strike the redhead.

"No, thanks." Lucy said. "I really don't think it's in my best interest."

The boys agreed with her 100% as they nodded their heads in unison. Rizzo had different thoughts on the subject, however.

"If you want, I can hit her for you." Rizzo said holding up a fist as she grinned.

"No!" Lucy and the boys snapped in reply.

Rizzo rolled her eyes though nodded her head, which had them sighing in relief. She then blinked when realizing things seemed awfully quiet around them. The others seemed to notice as well as they looked around. Rizzo blinked when seeing the townspeople staring at them. They murmured together quietly, which didn't set well with Rizzo.

"Are those Fairy Tail wizards?"

"I guess they don't know yet."

"I feel so bad for them."

Rizzo frowned wondering what these people were talking about as they continued walking.

"Why are they staring at us?" Gray asked.

"It's not the good kind of staring." Happy pointed out.

Rizzo had to agree with him there, and there was only one word that came to mind to describe the stares they were getting.

"It feels like pity." Erza said.

"That's just what I was thinking." Rizzo said as her frown deepened.

The two of them caught sight of the guild in the distance, and they froze with the others when seeing its warped appearance.

"What…why does the guild look so bizarre?" Erza asked.

"I don't know, but I say we find out." Rizzo said.

"Yeah," Natsu agreed nodding.

The two pinkettes hurried their pace towards the guildhall with the others quickly following behind. Natsu and Rizzo soon turned the last corner and came to a abrupt halt when seeing their guildhall. Rizzo's eyes widened once more when seeing the large iron rods sticking out of the guildhall. Rizzo took a few steps forward before coming to a complete stop. She stared up at the guildhall with her body shaking in anger. Natsu wasn't too pleased either and he didn't even seem to hear the others gasp as they finally caught up.

"No way." Gray said.

"Our guildhall…what happened to it?" Erza asked.

"I don't understand." Lucy said with her hand nearly covering her mouth.

Natsu started shaking as well as he glared upwards at the guild while imagining the bastards who dare do this to their guildhall.

"Our guild…someone did this to our guild." He growled.

"And whoever did it is going to pay." Rizzo said with her expression completely livid.

Her hands clenched so tightly into fists her bones groaned in protest, but she gave them no mind. All she cared about was getting her hands on the ones who did this.

"Who would do such a thing?" Erza asked.

"It was Phantom."

The group turned seeing Mirajane standing behind them with a troubled expression on her face.

"Are you serious?" Gray asked in disbelief.

"You mean Phantom did this?" Natsu demanded

Rizzo couldn't believe those bastards. Sure, they've had trouble with each other in the past, but never to such a degree. But they've crossed a line this time. A line they'd wish they'd never even had stepped on.

"We couldn't do anything to stop them." Mirajane said sadly. "They got us good."

She then told them she would show them down to the basement where all the others were. They made it down to the basement where the other members were muttering about Phantom. Rizzo noticed Jaser and Craylee amongst the rest and neither looked too pleased. They spoke together as Bastet sat in the middle of their table drinking tea. Rizzo's brow then quirked when not seeing a mark on either of her brothers. No signs of a fight on either of them. She looked around at the others seeing they looked the same as well. No, marks or wounds on anyone. Didn't they fight Phantom Lord?

"Hey, kids, how's it going?" Makarov, who was completely hammered, asked when Mirajane brought them to him.

"Uh, hi." Lucy said uncertainly.

She didn't know how to deal with Makarov, who was back to chugging his beer, while he's drunk.

"Sorry, we weren't here sooner." Erza apologized.

"Why the heck are you just sitting around down here?!" Natsu demanded.

"Yeah, Gramps, what's going on here?" Rizzo questioned.

The two were ignored as Makarov continued to chug the mug of beer in his hand. Rizzo's brow twitched in annoyance. How could he be sitting around drinking when they were attacked? Makarov then turned to Lucy.

"How'd it go, Lucy?" Makarov asked stumbling over his words. "Did you finish the job like a good girl? And keep those three troublemakers in line?"

Rizzo's brow twitched knowing he was referring to her, Natsu, and Gray when he said troublemakers.

"Yeah, I guess so." Lucy said still looking unsure.

"Master, do you understand the gravity of the situation?" Erza cut in.

"Yeah, the guildhall is all destroyed!" Natsu added.

"You kids, there's no reason for you all to get so worked up." Makarov said. "It's not the end of the world or anything."

He then chugged his drink once more as Rizzo's body started to shake again. No, it wasn't the end of the world, but someone had the gall to destroy their precious home. And anyone could have gotten hurt. Wasn't that enough to get upset over?

"What?" Natsu asked in disbelief.

"Just goes to show you how cowardly those dunderheads in the Phantom Lord guild really are." Makarov said as he paused from drinking. "They struck when nobody was here. Is that anything worth bragging about?"

Rizzo supposed not, but cowards or not, those Phantom Jerks still wrecked the guildhall.

"No one was here?" Erza asked.

"It was after everyone left for the night." Mirajane said softly.

"I suppose we can be thankful for that." Erza said. "At least no one in our guild was hurt in the attack."

Rizzo looked at Erza as if she was crazy. Yeah, it was great no one was hurt, but sitting around and being happy about that didn't get Phanton's ass kicked any sooner.

"We shouldn't trouble ourselves worrying about people who don't even have the guts to face us head on." Makarov said. "Forget about those fools."

Natsu punched the crate beside him with the wood instantly splintering at the impact made by his fist.

"Ain't going to happen, Gramps!" Natsu said. "We can't just let them trash our place and get away with it."

Rizzo stepped up beside him while placing her hand over her chest as she looked at their master.

"Master, I try to respect your decisions in the end, but this one I can't!" Rizzo said firmly. "What they did can't go unpunished! This is our home! We can't let it be disrespected like this!"

By now everyone was looking over at the group as Rizzo and Natsu faced Makarov with pissed off expressions.

"I'm not talking about it anymore." Makarov said. "From now on we'll handle job requests down here until the upstairs is finished."

"But, Master!" Natsu and Rizzo tried to protest in unison.

"Natsu, Rizzo, that's enough!" Makarov said while whacking them both over the heads.

They both winced rubbing their heads, but that didn't deter them. They still wanted to take action. However, before they could speak up again, Makarov jumped down to the floor to leave.

"Where are you going, old man?!" Natsu demanded.

"Hoh, keep your dress on," Makarov said. "I gotta take a leak."

He disappeared up the stairs as Rizzo's eyebrow twitched in annoyance again. She couldn't stand any of this.

"I don't understand why he's being like this," Natsu said frowning.

"Listen, this is just as hard on him as it is on you," Mirajane said. "He's mad, but conflict between the guilds is strictly forbidden by the Magic Council."

"Someone needs to tell Phantom that," Rizzo said as she put her hands in her pockets. "If they don't have to listen to the law, why should we?"

She knew those rules were made for a reason, and while she doesn't always listen to them, there are ones she'd never want to break if she could avoid it. Like creating a war between guilds since innocent people could be pulled into it all. However, Phantom cast the first stone. And what was Fairy Tail supposed to do? Just take it? Didn't seem right to Rizzo.

"Yeah, it's not fair!" Natsu agreed. "Those Phantom Creeps started it!"

"I know, but that doesn't matter," Mirajane reminded both of them.

Both pinkettes scoffed as Natsu crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't like this one bit.

"If the Master's decision is to not retaliate, we must respect it." Erza said firmly.

Rizzo's frown deepened then turned to walk away. If there was nothing to do here, she might as well head back to Fairy Hills.

"Where are you going, Rizzo?" Erza asked looking at her with a quirked brow.

"Back to the dorms." Rizzo replied as she glanced over her shoulder. "Is that a problem?"

Erza just stared at Rizzo silently, and Rizzo rolled her eyes as she realized Erza thought she was going off to do something stupid.

"If you're worried, I might try to go after Phantom, stop worrying." Rizzo said as she continued towards the stairs. "I heard what Master wishes for us to do. While I might not agree with his decision, I won't go against it."

She then disappeared up the stairs with Lucy looking after her worriedly. It was obvious that all this was really bothering her. Of course, all of them were bothered by it.

"Erza, maybe you should go with her," Mirajane said. "We don't know if Phantom might still be lurking around. I'd hate if something happened to her on the way home."

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea." Erza said. "I need to unpack my things anyway."

Erza went after the younger girl leaving the rest behind in the guildhall. Gray sighed as he put his hands behind his head.

"Well, she's going to be in a bad mood for a while." He commented.

"Who?" Lucy asked. "Erza?"

"No, that stupid pinky." Gray said. "She takes it real personal when someone messes with us on our home turf. I mean, we all do, but after the mess that happened with Satyr Reed, it really upsets her when we're hit like this. Of course, it bothers them too."

Gray looked over towards Craylee and Jaser as the two stopped talking to look down at the table in front of them. Lucy looked at them as well.

'Oh yeah, Satyr Reed's guildhall had been attacked directly just as Fairy Tail was now,' Lucy thought. 'So many had been hurt and afterwards the guild had disbanded. I wonder if our current situation brings up bad memories for Rizzo and her brothers.'

As Lucy thought quietly to herself, Gray looked up at the ceiling. He wasn't happy about any of this. He wanted Phantom to pay for what they've done to their home, but he supposed there was no changing things now. And the Master ordered for them to do nothing, so there really was nothing they could do. Gray then looked at the stairs as Blaze came down them to join the rest.

"Where's Master?" He asked looking around for the man.

"He went to take a leak." Cana replied. "Did you manage to get the material?"

Blaze nodded his head then pulled four marble-sized blue orbs from his pockets to hold between his fingers.

"I have it all right here." Blaze said.

Gray frowned in confusion wondering what the two of them we're talking about. Blaze then spotted Gray, Natsu, and Lucy while heading in their direction.

"You guys are back." Blaze said. "How was the job?"

"It was cool, I guess," Gray said. "Sucks to come home to this though."

Blaze nodded in understanding then glanced around the trio and Happy for a split second.

"Where's Rizzo and Erza?" He asked. "Weren't they with you?"

"They already headed back to Fairy Hills." Mirajane explained. "Rizzo…wanted some space."

"Oh...I see," Blaze said.

"So, tell me again, why we're packing?" Rizzo questioned as Erza, who had let herself into Rizzo's room without permission, was packing Rizzo's bag with fresh clothes.

She had just finished her shower moments ago and planned to work more on her musical composition when she found Erza going through her closet drawers. It wasn't the first time the redhead on gone through Rizzo's clothes and Rizzo had honestly been too tired to snap at her for it.

"I told you," Erza began. "We're going to Lucy's home. Mirajane is worried Phantom might try something else, so many of the guild are spending the night together."

"Strength in numbers, I get it." Rizzo said. "But we live in a dorm house, Erza, with a bunch of other capable wizards. Seems as if we're well off. If you're worried about Lulu we could always bring her here. She can use one of the spare rooms for the night or sleep with one of us."

"You're right, but what about the boys?" Erza asked. "Natsu and Happy? What about Gray?"

Rizzo hummed supposing Erza had a point. Though Rizzo didn't mind if the boys bunked in her room just as much as she didn't mind if Lucy did. Though she knew Erza wouldn't allow it, so Rizzo supposes she'll just be going to Lucy's with the rest of them.

"Fine," Rizzo said shrugging. "But aren't we just staying one night?"

"In theory." Erza said as she packed more of Rizzo's things.

"Then why are you packing enough underwear to last me a month?" Rizzo questioned.

Erza paused in what she was doing to look at Rizzo who was giving her a deadpanned expression. Erza then looked down at Rizzo's bag seeing it was nearly overflowing with her under garments and Erza hadn't even got to Rizzo's night clothes yet. Erza blushed a bit in embarrassment.

"My apologies." Erza said. "I seem to have gotten carried away."

"Ya think?" Rizzo asked sarcastically. "I don't need a million suitcases like you, ya know."