Chapter Eighteen: The Fall of Phantom Lord
"You're insane pretty mama! There's no way you're going to be able to fight in your state.
Noelle groaned. Why was everyone telling her what to do today?! And the fact it was Roxie of all people made it even worse!
"I have to do something! I just can't stay here while my friends are fighting!"
Roxie frowned. She didn't have anymore doubt that Noelle was strong but she wasn't in any condition to fight, either. She could barely stand now. More fighting could land her in some hot water.
"Juvia agrees. You should rest and regain your strength."
Noelle was going to protest when a fiery blast suddenly filled the air.
"GAJEEL!"
Natsu's roared ripped through the air and sent shivers down Noelle's spine.
"Gajeel is the one who attacked the guild as well as Levy, Jet, and Droy, I'm not going to let him get away with that. It doesn't matter if I have magic or not - that's not going to stop me!" Noelle declared. "Barnet, you stay here with Juvia and Roxie."
Barnet reached out and Grabbed Noelle by the wrist. "Wait," he said. "You and I both know that Natsu can handle Gajeel on his own. Go and help those who are still fighting against the phantom soldiers. I'm sure they could use your help more than Natsu."
Noelle frowned knowing he was right. She sighed and nodded, though disappointed she wouldn't get to punch Gajeel's stupid face.
"Fine. I'll go help the others."
"Be safe," Barnet said. "Don't do anything reckless, or you might send Gray to the brink of insanity."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Noelle fumbled, a blush on her face.
Barnet only smirked at her.
"I don't have time for this, damn it!"
Noelle turned away from the trio while trying to hide her face.
'Stupid Barnet! Why'd he have to go and say something like that?!'
Cana was starting to grow annoyed. Every time they thought they were through with the phantom soldiers more and more would take their place. They never died! Everyone was starting to run low on magic, including Cana herself. She didn't know how much longer she or anyone else could keep this up.
"We're getting nowhere with this!" Cana yelled in frustration.
"You better not give up now, Cana!"
"Noelle!" Cana smiled. "I'm glad to see you. We could really use some help down here."
"That's what I'm here for," Noelle said. "You guys take a rest, okay? Leave these guys to me."
Cana stepped back as Noelle stepped forward and cracked her knuckles. The Ice Dragon grinned and held her hands out in a show-me-what-you-got manner.
The phantom soldiers took the bate and closed in on her.
Noelle smirked and sucked in a breath. "Ice Dragon: Roar!" She screamed blasting the phantom soldiers away, but more were quick to take it's place.
Some of the members gasped at Noelle's magic.
Noelle breathed heavily and winced as pain shot up her side. It was getting harder to ignore her injuries now.
"Damn it," Noelle hissed and clutched her side. "Wait, what the hell are they doing now?"
The phantom soldiers began to fuse together, creating a giant ball of darkness with shadowy hands.
"That things got creepy hands everywhere" Laki yelled.
"That's the least of our worries." Wakaba said.
"Yeah, this is bad." Macao agreed.
The shadow monster began to attack the guild making everyone cry in panic.
"That monsters trying to tear down our guildhall!" Cana yelled with tears in her eyes.
"I won't let it!" Noelle roared. "Ice-Make: Wings!"
With her wings, Noelle flew into the air and faced the monster.
"I won't let you destroy our guild! Ice Dragon: Roar!"
She roared with all her might at the monster, but it didn't halt in its attack. Noelle felt tears prick her eyes. She tried again, and again, and again, but it just wouldn't stop!
"You bastard!..." She cried.
One of the free hands of the monster smacked Noelle out of the air and sent her crashing into the ground. Noelle cried out as pain flooded her body.
"Noelle!" Cana yelled.
The Card Mage ran over to her and helped her to her feet. "Stop. You can't keep going like this. You're going to kill yourself!"
"But the guild!" Noelle sobbed. "It's gong to destroy the guild!"
Cana began to break as she watched it destroy their guild - their home! She wouldn't let it, she would stop it! She tried to run but Noelle stopped her by grabbing her from under the arms.
"Noooo! Let me go! I have to stop that thing!" Cana shouted.
"There's nothing you can do, Cana!" Noelle yelled.
Noelle held Cana and hid her face in her shoulder as the guild came crashing down. There was nothing they could do. They were powerless to stop it. Noelle patted Cana's head as she cried. Noelle was crying too. She hadn't been here as long as Cana, but the memories she had, were so precious to her. Her friends were precious to her. Fairy Tail was precious to her...and now it was gone.
And she wasn't able to stop it.
"I'm so sorry," Noelle cried hysterically. "I tried, I really did. I'm so sorry."
Cana held on tighter to her as they both cried for the loss of their guild.
When all hope was lost a roar suddenly ripped through the air and fire lit the sky as Gajeel's body fell to the ground.
"Ow! You see that light!" Bisca cheered.
"It's Natsu!" Alzach said.
Noelle leaned against Cana with a tearful smile. "Nice one, Natsu."
Time had passed since the guilds destruction and everyone was still struggling to fight against the phantom soldiers. Noelle was completely out of magic energy - but she pushed through. She had to stay strong, especially since Gray and Erza had returned. Master Makarov had recovered and was now facing off against Jose. Every time the two attacked each other there was a tremendous tremor that shook the ground.
"How are you holding up Noelle?"
"I'm fine," Noelle panted. "Worry about yourself, frosty."
Gray could see right through her lie. She could barely stand, why the hell was she even still fighting? Was she trying to kill herself?!
"You should take a rest, Noelle." Erza said.
A powerful explosion came from the Phantom Guild and sent a shock wave out towards the Fairy Tail mages. Noelle grunted as she struggled to withstand the blast.
"I can't keep this up much longer," She huffed. "I'm all out of magic and the pain of my injuries is starting to get the best of me...but I can't give up, not now. Not while everyone else is still fighting."
Noelle grunted and shook off the pain.
Suddenly golden light filled the sky and a huge golden magic circle appeared above the Phantom Lord guild. Noelle shielded her eyes from the bright light and stumbled backwards. The phantom soldiers began to fade away as the light hit them.
"What is that light?!" She gasped.
"This is Fairy Law." Erza said.
"What is that?" Gray asked.
"A spell that vanquishes darkness with sacred light," Erza smiled. "It only affects those the caster see's as their enemy. Incredible, isn't it?"
The light had faded not too long after and the Fairy Tail wizards were already celebrating. After hours of fighting they had finally beaten Phantom.
The Master appeared before them and held his hands out in victory.
"We are victorious, but I had very little to do with it. This victory, is yours my children!" He yelled to them all.
Noelle laughed and allowed herself to collapse on the ground.
"We would have never been able to do it without you, Gramps."
Time had passed since the battle with Phantom, and everyone was slowly recovering. With the guild destroyed, Noelle had no choice but to stay with Porlyusica as she healed...and she wasn't happy about it.
"This sucks. I'm feeling better. Let me out of here already!"
Gray rolled his eyes at Noelle. "Like I said the last ten times, no. You need all the rest you can get."
"But it's been days!" Noelle whined.
With the fight with Phantom over her friends had dragged her ass to Porlyusica who yelled at her for being reckless and going against her orders. Noelle was still pouting about it since Porlyusica scared her, she wasn't afraid to admit that. The old hag hated humans and wasn't against beating them with brooms! Pure evil.
"I could always let Porlyusica know you're refusing to take your medicine," Gray smirked and held up a spoon with green liquid in it. "Say 'ah'."
Noelle grumbled and reluctantly opened her mouth. Gray shoved the spoon in her mouth and the medicine poured down her throat. Noelle gagged and dramatically clutched at her throat as if she was dying.
"Oh come on. It's not that bad." Gray smirked.
Noelle glared at him and grabbed the medicine bottle of the table. "Oh yeah?" She smirked and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "Say 'ah' pretty boy!"
"Hey! No! Cut it out Noelle!"
Gray struggled against Noelle as she tried to pour the medicine down his throat. Marlow who had entered the room at that moment saw Noelle's plan and grinned. He flew over to Gray and bit the wizard on the arm - extra hard so to draw blood.
"What the hell, cat?!"
Noelle saw her opening and poured the medicine in Gray's mouth. He gagged and spit out the gross tasting liquid and glared coldly at Noelle.
"Oh come on. It's not that bad." She taunted with a playful smile.
Gray wiped the excess liquid from his mouth and smirked. "It's good to see you smiling again. A frown doesn't suite you."
Noelle blushed and grabbed for her pillow. "Idiot! Why do you always have to go and make things awkward! You, stupid pervert!"
Gray laughed as she beat him down with a pillow. "Oh come on! I can't help it. You're cute when you're flustered."
"Shut up Gray!"
"I want to beat Gray up too!" Marlow grinned and grabbed a pillow. "Die, pretty boy!"
"Ow, come on! That's not fair!" Gray laughed.
Gray grabbed his own pillow and started to beat on the pair. They were all laughing as they raged pillow war on one another...that is until Porlyusica returned.
"You stupid brats! What do you think you're doing?!"
Noelle and Gray screamed and held onto another as Porlyusica closed in on them.
"We're sorry!"
"Kids like you are the reason I hate humans!"
Marlow smirked and curled up on the bed. Porlyusica may hate humans, but she never said anything about hating cats. So that made her okay in his book.
"And get that animal out of my house!"
Strike that. Marlow hated this woman.
