Coco: Hey, guys, as you can see (if you didn't read my update in version 3) I've decided to continue version 2 of Rizzo's story as I find it impossible to continue her story without her brothers in it and without some of the other OCs I've grown to love. So, this story will be continued while version 3 is terminated. Sorry for all the changes I've made over time to this story, but this one is final, I promise.
Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter.
Rizzo jumped back from an incoming attack then reequipped her violin out for her guitar. She gave a shout as she swung her guitar forward to connect to the jaw of the person who attacked. They cried out hitting the ground as Rizzo was putting the strap of her guitar over her shoulder. She started playing a quick intro on her guitar that had the ground thumping underneath her feet as the magic built up.
"Song of Holes!" She shouted.
The Phantom Lord wizards around her cried out as holes appeared underneath them. They dropped in with nothing they could do to escape. Rizzo smirked then looked up with everyone else when something—or rather someone—came flying down. Rizzo saw it was Gajeel as he landed on the Phantom Lord sign over the bar.
It cracked and shook when he landed, but he paid it no mind as he grinned down at the members of Fairy Tail. So, there was one of the guild's most powerful wizards. Where were the others? Rizzo looked up in the direction, Gajeel had come from to see Ulva Porla setting on the banister leisurely. Did she not plan to fight? Rizzo's eyes went back to Gajeel as Nab went in for attack. Rizzo wasn't surprised when Gajeel easily bat Nab away with an iron rod to the gut.
Gajeel is a strong wizard meaning for some of her guildmates they weren't strong enough to face him. Rizzo's eyes then widened when Gajeel's attack on Nab even hit a few of his own guildmates. Was that on purpose? Or was he too stupid to notice his comrades in the way? Gajeel just chuckled darkly as he jumped down to the floor with his hand returning to normal.
"Show me what you've got." Gajeel said. "Unless you scum are too scared to face to great Iron Dragon Slayer."
While Rizzo rolled her eyes at him, his taunt hit the wrong button with Elfman, and the white-haired man hurried to attack.
"Too scared?!" He demanded as he jumped over everyone. "Real men have no fear."
His arm transformed into stone as he went to hit Gajeel, but the Iron Dragon Slayer blocked Elfman's attack. He then took a swing at Elfman with his arm turning to Iron. However, Elfman dodged the punch then caught the iron kick with his hand. As they were fighting, so were the rest of their guild.
"Not bad, Big guy." Gajeel said.
"Well, that's because I'm a real man." Elfman said.
Gajeel just grinned with this light in his eyes that didn't set well with anyone watching.
"Oh yeah?" Gajeel asked. "Then let's see how a real man handles this!"
Iron sprouted from his iron limb, and once again Gajeel hit his own men without any remorse. Just what was wrong with this guy?
"They're Phantom." Elfman said while looking back at them. "You attacked your own men?"
"Because I knew it'd distract you." Gajeel said.
He went to hit Elfman in the face with iron, but his attack was caught by Jaser's bare hand. The two Dragon Slayers glared at each other. Jaser then grabbed the front of Elfman's shirt.
"Jaser, what are you doing?" Elfman asked.
"You're in the way." Jaser said.
He tossed Elfman far out of the way making his eyes widened. Then just where he was standing, Natsu appeared to punch Gajeel with a flaming fist. Gajeel went flying backwards into the bar.
"That kid sent him flying." Someone murmured. "That's never happened before."
"Yeah, well, that guy stopped Gajeel's attack with one hand." Someone else said. "What kind of monsters are they?"
Gajeel sat up to glare at Natsu and Jaser as the latter cracked his knuckles.
"Let us introduce ourselves." Natsu said.
"We're Fairy Tail's Dragon Slayers." Jaser continued.
Gajeel smirked as he moved the broken beam off of him, so to stand back up on his feet.
"Elfman, leave this guy to me." Jaser and Natsu said in unison.
"What?" Elfman asked. "First, I'm tossed like trash, and now you two want to gang up on this guy?"
"We're not ganging up on him." Jaser said.
"Yeah, this is a contest to see who takes him out first." Natsu said grinning with his sharp canines on display. "Whoever beats him first is the better Dragon Slayer."
Rizzo shook her head though she was grinning in amusement. There they go again making another competition between each other. Elfman frowned though didn't argue since he had a feeling it wouldn't help him anyway. Gajeel just continued smirking before running forward.
"Iron Dragon: Club!" He shouted.
He shot his arm forward with it turning into iron as it grew longer. It hit Natsu right in the gut, and he went back a few feet. However, he remained on his feet.
"You destroyed our guildhall." Natsu said as his heated hands made steam roll off the iron club. "And you attacked Levy and her team. I'll make you pay!"
He tossed Gajeel up into the air, and Jaser appeared behind Gajeel to kick him in the back with sand. Gajeel hit the ground as Jaser landed up in the rafters.
"Whew, Natsu is fired up now." Wakaba said.
"Looks like Jaser is right with him," Cana commented.
"Yeah, I'd hate to be that other guy." Macao added.
Elfman frowned unhappily, but he had to agree that Natsu and Jaser could handle this guy alone.
"They're quite the wizards." Erza said.
"Alright, fine, you're both manlier than I thought." Elfman said. "I'll let you both have this one, but you have to promise to—"
"You bet." Natsu said as Jaser landed beside him. "I'll beat him to a pulp."
"Unless I do it first." Jaser said.
There was a laugh from Gajeel as he got up from the small crater that had been caused by his impact.
"Nice try, but I'm still standing." Gajeel said.
Jaser narrowed his eyes at Gajeel while ready to beat him until all his damn bones were broken.
"You won't be for much longer though." Natsu said smirking.
"Oh yeah?" Gajeel challenged.
He ran forward with an excited grin on his face, and Natsu could barely get out an "uh-oh" before he was hit. He went flying through the air before hitting the ground with debris piling on top of him.
"Natsu!" Rizzo called out.
"That looked like it hurt." Gray commented.
"It's insane." Loke added.
Gajeel tried to take a swing at Jaser, but he dodged the attack then grabbed Gajeel to toss him into the air. Iron spikes came out of Gajeel's feet, and he used them to stick to the bottom of the rafters.
"You're not bad." Gajeel said. "Better than Salamander it seems. Guy couldn't even take a hit."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Natsu was able to get up out of the debris.
"It's going to take more than that to take me down." Natsu said with an excited grin on his face.
Gajeel chuckled with his head tilted to the side partially as he stared down at Jaser and Natsu. He landed back on the floor while rolling his shoulders.
"You two seriously think you can beat me, Pyro, Sandman?" Gajeel asked.
"What do you mean think?" Natsu asked as flames engulfed his hand. "I know I can."
"We'll see about that." Gajeel said.
He shot his iron club toward at Natsu, but the pinkette caught it in one hand with flames surrounding it.
"Your steal beams can't even touch me." Natsu said as he bent some of the iron as he turned up the heat. "You better start stepping up your game!"
"The rumors are true." Gajeel said as he retracted his attack with his hand going back to normal. "You're way more powerful than you look. That actually burned a bit. Is that all you got, Salamander?"
He then grunted when a sand covered fist hit him in the face to send him flying to the side.
"You seemed to have forgotten I'm here too." Jaser snarled. "Careful, might cost you."
Gajeel, who picked himself up, frowned while noticing the killing intent that was practically rolling off of Jaser. Cana paused in her fight to look at Jaser. This side of him…it was more than just a little intimidating. She didn't like when he got like this. This wasn't the Jaser they knew.
"Oh yeah, White Sand?" Gajeel questioned. "Don't think you can beat me so easily!"
He jumped towards Jaser, and managed to punch him right in the jaw. Jaser's head snapped to the side, and Gajeel was quickly to kick Jaser in the ribs. Jaser few skidding back a few feet, but he managed to remain on his feet. He then calmly wiped the blood off his lip.
"You pack quite the punch, Black Steel." Jaser said then jump forward at blinding speed. "But it isn't enough to just be strong!"
He punched Gajeel in the face. Then sent him up into the air with a kick. Jaser jumped up after him then brutally sent a melee of attacks at Gajeel.
"Whoa." Gray said as he looked up at Jaser as he kept on the assault. "He's pissed."
As he continued to watch, Jaser jumped onto the rafters with Natsu following, and the younger Dragon Slayer kicked up a fuss about being left out of the fight.
"Yeah, if Gajeel doesn't take this fight seriously, Jaser might end up killing him," Rizzo agreed.
The whole guildhall then started shaking, which had everyone pausing in their fight. Rizzo frowned knowing that Makarov and Jose had to be fighting. However, something was bothering her. She had this bad feeling in her stomach.
"Prepare to fight!" Erza called out over everyone. "We cannot lose as long as Master Makarov is with us."
"Yeah!" Fairy Tail replied.
Rizzo slammed down on the strings of her guitar to send a blast of sound towards the wizards in front of her. Someone tried to attack her from the side, but Gray and Loke took him out.
"I had it." Rizzo said. "Geez, what's with you boys coming to help me as if I'm a damsel in distress?"
"Hey, it shouldn't be a crime for a gentleman to try and help out a lady." Loke said grinning.
"I wasn't trying to help you, stupid." Gray said. "You were just being slow, so I took him out for you."
Rizzo turned to glare at Gray as Loke sighed. Did Gray really have to say that in the middle of a fight like this?
"Watch it, Frosty." Rizzo said as her brow twitched. "You keep running your mouth, I'll add you to the stomping list."
"Eh, what was that?" Gray questioned. "If you can't even handle these guys, I'm way out of your league."
Rizzo was about to tell him to shove it when she and the boys stiffened when sensing something heading their way. The boys jumped back out of the way as a shadow fellow over Rizzo. Rizzo quickly jumped up while sending her guitar away to flip in the air as something landed where she had been standing. Her eyes widened when the stone floor cracked at the impact of whatever had fallen on it. As she landed on her feet, she looked up seeing what had fallen was a what looked like a large purple mass of ooze. When the ooze started moving, Rizzo shifted back.
"Just what is this thing?" Rizzo wondered aloud.
When the mass grew arms and seemed to open a large mouth, Rizzo was even more freaked out.
"Rizzo, get away from that thing!" Loke shouted. "It's an Ooze! They're old creatures that were supposedly once humans who had been experimented on with the use of dark magic. When the first of them could no longer hold up to the experiments, they turned into what you see in front of you. I hear more were made once the wizards doing the experimentation saw how dangerous they could be. One touch from their slimy bodies could turn an entire lake rancid."
Rizzo didn't like the sound of that one bit. She had to jump back again to avoid this Ooze when its slimy, stretchable arm reached for her. There was a laugh from above, which had Rizzo and the two boys looking up. They saw one of the beast tamers up on the second floor. She was sitting casually on the banister with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Your friend is right." She spoke. "While the Ooze isn't quick or physically strong, it is excellent at the element of surprise, and once it gets a hold of its prey, the prey cannot escape."
Rizzo frowned. So, now they had two of the elite on the board. That left the Element 4, Jose's personal lapdog, and the other Beast Tamer. But which Beast Tamer were they dealing with?
"Oh, forgive me," The Tamer said. "I haven't introduced myself. I am Ulva Porla. The daughter of Master Jose."
"Yeah, and where's that sister of yours?" Rizzo questioned as she stood up.
"My dear older twin sister is out on a mission at the moment." Ulva said with a small shrug. "But don't worry. I'll definitely be enough to keep you entertained. But let's see if you can do the same for me."
Rizzo's frown deepened. Another person who underestimates her, huh? Well, she supposed she'd just have to step it up a notch. Rizzo held out her hand with her violin reappearing.
"Trust me, Beast girl, this isn't going to be much of a fight." Rizzo said. "I don't care how many beasts you send at me. In fact, send them all if you want, but I won't be losing to you."
She stared at Ulva with a hard gaze and the slightly older girl grinned in excitement. This was it. Finally, she was going to have her own fun. However, before either girl could start fighting, something fell from above to crash on the floor, and all of Fairy Tail looked in horror as they saw who is was.
"Gramps!" Rizzo shouted.
Makarov laid on the ground literally looking green, and he couldn't even lift his head as his children called out to him. Rizzo sent her violin away while completely forgetting about her fight with Ulva before she ran over to Makarov. Rizzo fell to her knees beside Makarov as Erza, Cana, Natsu, and Gray hurried over as well.
"My power is…my magical power is…" He rambled weakly.
Rizzo felt her hands clench into fist as Erza carefully lifted Makarov off the ground into her lap.
"Master, calm down." Erza said gently.
"What happened to him?" Cana asked.
"I don't know." Gray said. "I don't sense any magic energy coming from him at all."
Rizzo grit her teeth harshly as she reached out to gently grip Makarov's hand. Jose was going to pay for this. Rizzo didn't even listen to the others as she mentally swore to make of Phantom regret what they've done. She did lift her head, however, when Phantom started to fight back.
The others went to attack back, and Rizzo got up to join them. She was going to send this entire building crumbling to the ground. She was going to make every last person wearing a Phantom Lord guild mark pay for their transgressions. She was going to tell Erza to stay with Makarov, but she saw an attack heading Erza's way from behind.
"Erza, watch out!" Rizzo shouted.
Rizzo hurriedly pushed Erza down out of the way, and she took the full blast of the attack as Erza watched on with wide eyes.
"Rizzo!" Erza yelled.
Her yell caught the attention of the guild as many turned to watch as Rizzo fell towards the ground. She hit the ground in front of Erza who hurried to check on her.
"Rizzo!" Happy and Bastet cried.
"Rizz!" Natsu shouted towards her then turned to glare at the one who cast the spell. "You're dead."
Gray felt himself starting to boil in anger as he watched Erza hold Rizzo's limp form in her arms. They might not get along, but that didn't make seeing her hurt any easier. Craylee hurried towards his fallen sister as Jaser felt a snarl build up in this throat at the sight of his sister harmed.
"Heh, looks like another one of your little friends was taken down." Gajeel said.
Jaser snapped his head back up to glare at Gajeel who was smirking. Jaser jumped forward to continue their fight, and Gajeel laughed enjoying every second of it. Erza looked down at Rizzo feeling completely guilty for her injuries.
"Retreat!" Erza repeated her previous order. "Now!"
Everyone started running for it while knowing that Erza was probably right. They couldn't win this now.
"I'll take her," Craylee said reaching for his sister.
Erza nodded while letting the Seamster take his sister as Gray and Loke hurried over.
"We'll cover you," Gray said.
Craylee started retreating with the others as Loke and Gray and a few members who weren't too hurt gave cover to those who were hurt. Cana was ushering people out the door when she noticed that Jaser was still duking it out with Gajeel.
"Jaser, that's enough!" Cana shouted out to him. "Get your ass in gear and retreat!"
Alzack, who was also offering cover, was about to tell Cana there was no getting through to Jaser while he was like this. Not even his siblings could calm him down. And last time, it took Breccan and Sven dragging him both away, and neither were here. However, Jaser surprisingly stopped his attacks.
"Did you hear me?!" Cana demanded. "Don't be an idiot! Come on!"
Jaser stood there stiffly for a moment before finally turning away from Gajeel who frowned. Looks like the fight was over. Jaser jumped down to the floor as Gajeel joined one of his guildmates and Ulva, who had moved, on one of the higher beams. Jaser was about to help Natsu provide cover when the two Dragon Slayers heard something interesting from Gajeel.
"So, what happened to that Lucy girl?" Gajeel asked.
Jaser stiffened as Natsu turned around to glare up at Gajeel and his guildmate.
"She's been captured." He replied. "The poor wretch is being held in a gloomy cell at headquarters."
"So much for giving her a warm welcome huh?" Gajeel asked grinning.
"Hmm, as expected, my older sister didn't fail in capturing her." Ulva added with a cruel smirk. "If the little thing tries anything funny, I'm sure Leona will make her stay even less welcoming."
Natsu's glare hardened as his hands clenched into fists. Happy, who didn't know what happened, looked up at the two Dragon Slayers in concern.
"Is there something wrong?" Happy said.
"Gajeel!" Natsu roared.
"We'll finish this someday, Salamander, White Sand." Gajeel said.
He then disappeared with that creepy buddy of his and Ulva, which had Natsu and Jaser growling in anger.
"Those jerks kidnapped Lucy." Natsu said.
"WHA?!" Happy asked.
Jaser frowned because this was turning into an even stickier development. He wanted to stay and fight, but knew now wasn't the time. He heard someone scream, and he turned his head seeing Laki had been hit.
"I'm going to help the others retreat." He said to Natsu. "I trust you can get Lucy back."
"You know it." Natsu said nodding.
Jaser nodded his head then ran over to where Laki had fallen. He scooped her up, and she blushed a bit as she looked up at him.
"Don't worry, I got ya." He said. "We're getting out of here."
He ran off with the others while hoping that Rizzo was okay. She took a pretty big hit.
Lucy groaned as she started to come too. When her eyes opened up to see a cold stone floor, she gasped while sitting up. She looked around her surroundings quickly.
"Where am I?" She wondered.
"In Phantom Lord's second headquarters." A voice said from behind her.
Lucy let out a small shriek of fright as she whirled around the best she could while tied up. Her eyes widened when seeing Leona there leaning against the large opening in the room. The taller girl wasn't even looking at her as she stared outside.
"You're one of the ones who captured me." Lucy said as she set her gaze in a glare. "Why? Why did you bring me here?"
"Because my master ordered it of me." Leona said simply as she turned to look at Lucy. "You were the target. I was sent to capture you alongside Juvia. That's all there's to it."
So, Lucy really was the target, huh? But she didn't understand why. Why did Phantom want to kidnap her? And how were the others? She's worried about them.
"And why are you and you friends messing with Fairy Tail?" Lucy demanded. "If you wanted me…why destroy the guild hall? Why hurt Levy, Jet, and Droy?!"
Leona sighed as she scratched the back of her head, which she tilted to the side.
"If I had it my way, I'd involve Fairy Tail as little as possible." Leona said. "This rivalry between our guilds has been going on for generations. To me it was just a way to challenge myself against other capable wizards. I even had a few run-ins with Erza Scarlet and Breccan Ableben in the past. Though I never beat them once during our fights, I never held any ill will towards them or the rest of you. But the same can't be said for my father or the rest of the guild."
Leona always respected Fairy Tail. They were a strong guild full of many capable young wizards. Not to mention she has always been a bit jealous of their family-like atmosphere. But she would never say these things aloud.
"My father—Master Jose—is going to make the attack on Fairy Tail sound as if it was all for the job we were hired to do." Leona continued. "As if Fairy Tail had to be hurt to get to you, but that's not true at all. Jose hates Fairy Tail and has for the last six years, which is when the rivalry seemed to change into something more for him."
"But why do you all want me anyway?" Lucy asked. "What job were you hired for?"
Leona blinked at Lucy as if genuinely confused by her questions, which Lucy didn't understand.
"Isn't obvious?" Leona asked. "You're Lucy Heartfilia, aren't you?"
Lucy stiffened at the mention of her family name, and Leona nodded when seeing Lucy was starting to understand.
"We were hired by Jude Heartfilia to bring you home." Leona said as Lucy's face set back in a glare. "But you don't want to go back. There's obviously a reason why you left in the first place, right? And my best guess is that you and your dad don't get along any better than my dad and I do."
Lucy's brows furrowed in confusion as a saddened expression fell over Leona's face.
"I don't want to be doing any of this." Leona confessed.
The second that Jose had told Leona and Ulva of their plans, she hadn't liked it one bit. She had even suggested not taking the job because she knew taking a member of Fairy Tail would lead to a fight. And battles between guilds were strictly forbidden. Of course, her suggestion hadn't been welcomed and her father had been upset with her. So, here they were. In the middle of a fight with Fairy Tail.
"Then why are you?" Lucy questioned.
"Because unlike you, I'm not brave enough to run away from my own hell." Leona replied.
Before Lucy could ask to know more—to understand—but Leona headed for the door.
"My father will be here soon to speak with you," Leona said. "Even if he acts nice at first, don't trust it. That man…is a monster."
Leona then disappeared out the door—leaving Lucy there to sit and stew in her thoughts. Maybe she wasn't the only prisoner here.