Chapter 12:

It's been over a week since Natsu was arrested.

The moment they entered the guild, Wendy was next to Natsu asking him if it went well. The only answer she got was a relatively long look from Natsu. Wendy blushed at the stupid question.

''Do you want to go out of the guild for a week or two?'' Natsu asked after a moment. Wendy looked away for a second and Natsu knew the answer. The answer he didn't expect.

''For a job... you know... We didn't go on one alone for more than a month''

It didn't sound long but for the two it was. It was rare if they had two weeks between the missions they took together.

What changed? He looked at Wendy. Was it because of what was hidden behind the bandages on his left palm?

Natsu involuntarily moved his left hand out of Wendy's line of sight.

Wendy looked at the floor feeling guilty. But what could she do? She could barely look at her brother without crying. He was suffering and only she knew it. Only she knew it and she couldn't do a damn thing.

''I... promised Erza I'll go with her and her team on a job. We... we're leaving today afternoon''

''Erza has a team?'' Natsu asked. That was new.

Wendy nodded as she bit her lower lip. ''Lucy, Gray and Erza''

''By the sounds of it you as well'' Natsu concluded.

''I guess''

Natsu nodded as he walked away. Wendy stayed quiet.

The dragon slayer walked to the second floor where Laxus sat on the railings. The blonde didn't move as Natsu walked by to the mission board and after a moment torn off two S-class mission flyers.

Without a word to anyone, Natsu departed by a hole that opened beneath the dragon slayer with the quiet incantation leaving his lips.

Laxus snorted ''Show off''

Down on the first floor, Wendy was looking at her full glass of orange juice.

''Why the long face, Wendy?'' Mira asked as she moved to the smaller girl. Wendy looked up at her ''I'm a jerk''

Carla, who sat beside the girl looked at her, Happy speaking first ''How come?... Ouch! Why did you do that'' Happy glared at Carla who sniffed?

''That's no way to ask someone what's wrong''

Mira looked from the cats back at Wendy. ''Natsu asked me to come with him on a job''

Mira frowned not seeing the problem... Or Natsu for that matter.

''But I promised I would go with Erza and her team already''

''I don't really see how does that make you a jerk, Wendy'' Mira commented ''If Natsu's angry- which I doubt- he has no right to be what so ever''

Wendy bit her lower lip. She couldn't tell Mira further reasons. Not without breaking her promise to Natsu.

''I know... but we are really spending too little time together recently. I mean you know how he is. He might act like a loner but he's not against the company. He simply can't talk with people like you and I can because he doesn't know how''

Mira hummed in agreement ''True... however that doesn't mean that you have to spend your time with him all the time simply because he has no one else to be with''

Wendy nodded. 'It's not that I don't want to spend time with him. I can't even look at him at the moment and it's not even his fault'

But that's not something she could tell her, is it?

''You are right'' she said instead, forcing a smile on her face. Mira smiled back as she turned around responding to the calls of few members asking for more beer.

Wendy sighed as she stood up. ''Where are you going?'' Carla asked as Wendy turned towards the doors.

Wendy stopped. Where was she going?

''To pack?''

Carla frowned ''You don't know?''

''To pack''

The white cat smiled as she stood up as well and flown to her, Wendy taking her in her arms.

''I'll go with you then'' Carla said. Happy looked at them with frown ''Hey, what about me?!''

Wendy smiled ''You can come with us if you want''

Happy grinned as he spread his wings. ''Aye sir!''

The recently named team Erza walked through the streets of Magnolia towards guild after the successfully completed mission.

Erza looked around. Something was weird. But what? The city was as busy as always at this time of day but it was only... quiet.

Erza's eyes locked with the eyes of a nearby citizen and she realized something quite unsettling.

''Why are they looking at us like that?'' The redhead mused.

Wendy shuddered ''I don't like this''

"Something's not right" Gray, who didn't want any more attention, muttered quietly.

"Let's get to the guild'' Erza said ''They will know what's going on''

Titania's pace increased but others didn't complain following the redhead without a word.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, strange looks still fallowing them and with each step Erza's stomach contracted into a tighter ball.

When they saw the outline of the guild in the distance they broke into a run and when they reached it they were left in horror induced silence.

From the tall building that was Fairy Tail's guild hall were protruding large iron pools destroying the beautiful structure that was guild's pride and joy. Destroying their home.

Gray glanced at Erza who looked at the stone floor, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned white.

They moved inside. Lucy's fingers sneaked around her keys as she looked at the horror that surrounded them, a sword flashed in Erza's hand before she forced it to disappear, temperature around Gray dropped and Wendy gripped Carla tighter, her hair moving through the air as if the light wind was blowing in deadly silent hall while Happy landed next to Wendy looking around the guild with wide eyes.

The trap doors that lead to the basement opened with a creek attracting their attention. "I thought I heard someone"

Mira looked at them, her eyes puffy but a smile clasped on her face. The smile that was on her face far from her eyes.

"What happened here?!" Erza cried in outrage finally finding her voice.

"Come to the basement. We have set a temporary hall there'' Mira said, gesturing towards the trap door that led into the basement behind the bar, or rather what was left of it because one of the iron pillars passed straight through it.

"Who would do something like this?" Wendy asked, as her eyes watered, tears streaming down her face. This was her home. This was her only home since Grandeeney left her.

"Master will explain everything," Mira said as she walked down the stairs.

The basement, formally used to store barrels was filled with guildmembers sitting around the few tables that were in decent enough shape to be carried down from the upper floor.

Erza looked around finding the master in a second but not in the shape she hoped. With the mug in his hand, Makarov looked as though he had been drinking for hours – which was probably the case. Even though he had a stupidly big smile on his face, he radiated gloomy energy just as every other member inside the basement.

When Makarov noticed them walking toward him, his smile became painfully more strained on his old face.

"You're back'' he observed ''You must be wondering what happened"

Erza nodded, the muscles in her jaw tightening as she hissed out ''Yes''

Her fist shook with barely contained anger "You know that Fairy tail has rivals-" master was never able to finish as Macao yelled

"You call this rivalry?! Phantom lord should pay for what they've done!" Macao yelled.

"Phantom lord did this?!" Gray yelled angrily as he slammed his fist into the nearby barrel breaking the top wooden lid.

Wendy could feel her magic rising in anger, something she rarely if ever experienced. "How could they do this?"

"We should make them pay" Erza yelled and other members cheered for her.

"Yeah! Why are we still sitting here?!" Gray yelled.

"They want war! They'll get it!" Elfman cried and bumped his fist in the air.

"SILENCE!" Makarov's voice boomed in the basement. Everybody went silent in a second.

"We are not going to attack Phantom lord!" Makarov's voice boomed once again.

"But master-!" Gray started but didn't get far.

"No buts! We can easily fix guild hall, but if we attack Phantom Lord, the Council will again have us on their hit list!'' Makarov yelled before he looked away sitting down on the barrel again with a sigh, muttering the last part ''Like we already don't have enough problems with them''

No one else dared to speak out.

The sky was colored orange as the sun began to set. The streets of Magnolia already losing its shape in the long shadows.

"Guys, you don't have to walk me all the way home. I'll be fine" Levy said to Droy and Jet but the two only grinned in return.

"Master said that we should go in groups because there might still be some members of Phantom lord lingering around'' Jet said.

"And we don't want you to get hurt," Droy explained with a grin.

"Aww~ you're so sweet," Levy said with a warm smile gracing her lips as she turned to look at the road in front of herself.

Jet and Droy looked at her as if on heaven nine before looking at each other simultaneously, glaring daggers at the other boy.

''She said that to me'' Jet exclaimed first as he crossed his arms over his chest with a huff.

''That's not what I heard! She was obviously talking to me!'' Droy objected.

Jet looked at him, scandalized ''No, she wasn't!''

Levy giggled as she looked at the setting sun, her smile turning forced for a moment. 'What will happen now? Will Phantom lord continue with whatever they are trying to do?'

The three wizards stayed oblivious to the red eyes following them from the alley but the deep-throated chuckle couldn't be missed.

"Who's there?" Droy yelled and stood in front of Levy while the three turned to look behind only to see... nothing.

"Show yourself!" Jet yelled and stood on the other side.

They never heard an answer as darkness overtook their vision.

Trough empty streets of Magnolia a sound of an iron dragged across the stone streets echoed.

The sun has set a few hours ago but the Magnolia park was unusually full of people. Every last one of them horrified beyond belief at the sight of three mages nailed to the giant oak tree in the center of the park.

''Coming through'' Erza said as she pushed away some of the bystanders trying to get a clear look at what was raising the commotion.

''We're from the guild'' Gray said moving behind Erza just as quickly as she was.

It didn't take long for them to see it.

It was despicable.

''Levy!'' Lucy cried in shock as she almost dropped to her knees, horrified by the sight in front of her.

Erza clenched her hands at her side, unable to move her eyes away from the horrible picture.

''Jet! Droy!'' Gray stared at them with his mouth hanging open in shock and terror that crept in his bones.

Wendy stood beside them, tears once again flowing down her cheeks for the second time in one day.

In front of them, nailed to the oak tree hung Levy, Jet, and Droy crucified and beaten. Blood slowly dripped from Levy's parted lips, her eyes closed.

Drip... Drop...

Wendy's stomach turned at the sound and smell.

Drip... Drop...

On Levy's exposed stomach symbol of Phantom Lord was cut into her skin, blood flowing from the wound that will probably leave a scar in the horrible shape.

Another tear rolled down Wendy's cheek. ''How could they do this?''

She asked no one in particular but she didn't expect the answer.

Mira came to them and knelt beside Wendy. She hugged her strongly and whispered "Don't cry, Wendy. They will pay''

"That is correct'' Makarov spoke as he walked to them ''They will pay."

Makarov's face was gravely serious, fists clenched to the point where his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. White hot fury boiled through his veins as he looked at the terrible sight in front of himself.

Because they dared to hurt his children they will pay. A certain sentence he heard their resident dragon slayer say few times coming to his mind.

They will suffer.

As Makarov walked closer everyone moved out of the way, even without using his Titan magic the master seemed huge but it was his massive aura rather than actual size responsible.

As Makarov moved closer several members started taking down Levy and her two friends from the tree, carefully so not to aggravate the injuries.

When Levy touched the ground Wendy was already above her, her hands glowing in the soft golden light as the engraved symbol on her stomach started disappearing, the scar that would surely stay there any other way disappeared before even forming.

"I do not care if someone laughs at me'' Makarov said in low voice. "I will not hit back if someone destroys my home'' he said little louder.

"BUT! There's one thing that I will not tolerate!" he started growing into his titan form. "I CAN NOT AND I WILL NOT TOLERATE MY CHILDREN GETTING HURT!" He was now towering above the tree.

"PHANTOM LORD BROUGHT OUR FURY ON THEMSELVES! THEY WANTED WAR! THEY. WILL. GET IT! THEY MADE A MISTAKE THEY WILL REGRET!" his voice roared through the city.

"FAIRY TAIL! PREPARE YOURSELF! PHANTOM LORD STARTED THIS WAR! WE WILL FINISH IT!" master yelled and pumped his fist in the air.

Everyone else followed his example and raised their hands. "YEAH!"

End of chapter 12.

Rewritten

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