Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima.

Author's Notes: Based on CoLu Week 2015, Prompt Family/ Slight AR (Lahar never died). And for the sake of this story (it pains me greatly as Lahar is one of my BAE's of FT) will be the obvious bad guy. So if you do not like that, I politely ask you to turn around andleave now because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.


Lucy stood there looking at the assembled Dragon Slayers, and the members of Crime Sorcier. She could see it in the eyes of everyone present that this was a set-up, especially with the knowledge that Jellal had given them on the few Dark Guilds they had been watching. Part of her wanted to march to Era and strangle each member of the Magic Councils throats, then hanging Lahar upside down by his toes and using her whip to flay his naked ass alive and pausing only to rub salt mixed with lemon juice into the open wounds.

"Damn, Tits McGee, you got some seriously dark thoughts rampaging in your head," Cobra whispered to her.

Not looking away as Jellal pointed out locations on the map for which areas would be the best to strike first, Lucy let a smirk curl the corners of her lips. The war with Alverez was over; they'd all suffered heavy losses. Acnologia was gone; most of the Spriggan Twelve either imprisoned or had run back to Alverez. She did not doubt that the Dark Guilds were getting some kind of aid from the damn country.

"That is all I can tell you. If we had more time to get more information on the magic that the Leaders and their Council in the Dark Guild's used," Jellal said. "It would make this that much more simple. But we do know that they are congregating near the mountain divide."

Shifting her body slightly, crossing her arms under her breast, Lucy looked at each of the Slayer's presence. Her mind was already figuring who'd team up with who to be most effective. She was, by implication, the leader of this mission, and it had been stressed that her orders were to be obeyed no matter what. So, Lucy knew that putting Sting and Natsu together was a huge no.

"Lucy?"

Blinking her eyes as she lifted them from the map, Lucy gave a quick nod of her head that she had teams already designed. Jellal had promised that they'd provide backup support and vanish if the Rune Knights showed up.

"Here is the breakdown of the teams, based on compatibility and control," she said, dropping her hands onto the map. "Sting, Rogue, you two have spent years working as a team. Are well aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses. You will be doing some recon and then fighting as a unit, start with the eastern part of the encampment where the Dark Mages are gathering."

Shifting, Lucy moved her hand to another area and tapped it and drawing everyone's attention to that spot, while pointedly ignoring Natsu's muttering about not being teamed with Sting. She was more than aware of their rivalry. It was like the one he had with Gray. Lucy also knew that Natsu was a hell of a lot smarter than he acted, just had some severe impulse control issues.

"Next will be Wendy and Gajeel you have the Western part of the encampment," she stated. "Gajeel, you have been able to move through the shadows since the Grand Magic Games, so take Wendy and recon this area and report back. When it comes time to attack, you two will be an effective team, due to all the missions you two have been taking."

Once more, Lucy moved her hand to another point on the map, her finger tapping it as she stared for a few seconds.

"Laxus, Natsu, you two will be a direct assault team. You know how the other works," Lucy stated. "This point will need to be taken fast, so hit hard as possible once the signal has been given by Jellal, who will stay with me until the assault starts."

Then she moved her hand one final time and tapped several areas along the way.

"Jellal and his Guild will handle each of these areas," Lucy stated. "Cobra, you are to be my relay person. That Sound Magic you have is vital to pull this off. I need to know what the range on it is before you have issues making out things from people."

There was a long silence as everyone seemed to focus on her and the Poison Slayer, who was currently giving her a dark glare with his one eye. Not amused, Lucy raised an eyebrow and waited, making sure to keep her mind and soul quiet.

"I can hear for up to a good half-mile before it gets hard to make out what is being said," Cobra muttered. "The closer I am though the better. And what about my ability to attack? My Poison could knock those dimwitted fuckers out cold in a heartbeat."

Lucy knew he wasn't blowing hot air out his ass with that statement. But she had already figured that there had to be at least one Poison Mage or a Mage that could neutralize the Poison in the Guilds gathered.

"Look, your magic and ability will bolster my own. I won't have to speak to you to work effectively with you," Lucy stated. "Your secondary magic is capable of hearing my spirits as well. Thus if I am in danger, then you can kill the dimwitted fuckers as you put so eloquently. Think of this as a game of King of the Castle. You protect the King; there is a higher chance of victory. And that is what we all want, right? We all know this is Magic Council set-up, with the Rune Knights acting like the little bitches to make sure we mess up and pay the piper."

The way each person's head nodded slowly in agreement with her was all she needed. Lucy smiled her usual smile at them, then ran through the attack plans after Gajeel and Rogue checked in with her over the Lacrima com. It was time to go, and she wouldn't allow for any mistakes to be made unnecessarily. Her eyes meet Laxus' to make sure he knew he was to control Natsu. And to knock him out if he had to.


Makarov sat at his desk, looking at the paperwork piling up on it. It had been almost two weeks since his brats had left for the mission requested by the Magic Council. And not one to be idle, he had called in a few more favors with friends that still worked there, or had contacts that worked there. It had not been easy to acquire the information, but he had gotten it and shared it with Obaba, Bob, Goldmine, and acting Guild Master Rufus. They were appalled at the levels the new and improved Magic Council was going to try and lock away the Dragon Slayers.

Though the brunt of their shared anger was that Lucy would be the fall guy and potentially lose her magic. Bob and Rufus both have either had or have a Celestial Mage in their Guild. And the rage that they kept under wraps was practically felt through the joint Lacrima Call. If anything happened to jeopardize Lucy and her magic, there was likely to be a war with the Magic Council, and Makarov did not doubt that the war would reach the new Queen of Fiore, Hisui, who was a former Celestial Mage herself, but also a dear friend with Lucy.

Sitting back and smiling darkly, Makarov couldn't help the small part of him that hoped there'd be a war on the arrogant asses that sat on the Magic Council. In his opinion, their targeting his Guild was terrible enough, drunk on their power from their positions. And a lot of the members had been there when Lucy joined Fairy Tail and the Lullaby incident. A parent was supposed to protect their children, and that was what he was going to do.

Reaching out, he grabbed the Lacrima Com and decided it wouldn't hurt to put in a few more calls to a few other Guild Leaders. Makarov was sure they had heard by now about the Dragon Slayers selected for a personal mission by the Council. And the more people he had backing him, the better. Besides, he was still waiting for a few more people to contact him with more information.


Sweat poured down his face as he blinked his eyes. The acrid smoke that was billowing from were a Dark Mage set off something burned two of his fives senses and made another practically numb. Lucy's plan of attack had been brilliant, but like always, something had gone wrong. It was as if the Dark Mages had been waiting for an attack.

Grinning ferally, Laxus stepped to the side and grabbed Natsu by his shirt. It was about time that he let the bastard run wild. Hearing a shocked scream as he threw Natsu as if he weighed nothing, Laxus turned and took a deep breath, feeling his lungs burned from the smoke and etherion particles that were still inside him. Gauging by the sound, he waited until the sounds of feet rushing towards him were near and breathed out a strong roar.

The smell of burnt, electrified flesh mixing with the acrid smoke was even more unpleasant, but the screams of pain were a dark symphony to his ears.

"Laxus, what has happened on your side? Wendy and Gajeel are hard-pressed, so are Rogue and Sting," Lucy's voice came over the Lacrima Com.

He didn't pause as he coated one fist in Lighting and began to punch at those that were still standing after his roar.

"One of the Dark Mages set something off that is messing with my sight, smell, and taste," He stated. "The way they reacted to us attacking was almost as if they were expecting. Kinda stinks of a set-up."

There was silence before some rather colorful cursing came over the com. He was pretty damned sure that a human body couldn't bend or take that kind of punishment. Laxus had a healthy respect for Lucy; she put up with her Team's Bullshit all the time, and still wore a smile. But he was aware of how she had adapted her magic to benefit how she fought, having asked Freed about Celestial Mages, that and getting to know the pretty little white-haired one from Sabertooth.

"What is Natsu doing?" Lucy asked, followed by the groan of a few other people.

"I threw his ass through the smoke so he could go wild. He knows not to kill. Maim and disable. Our Goal is still the central area of the encampment?" He replied.

"Yes. See you there," Lucy stated before the Com went silent.


Cobra watched Lucy as she paced back and forth, eyes narrowed as her anger radiated from in waves of heavy metal music to his ears. She was beyond pissed, and a bit worried. He agreed with Laxus; this was almost like a set-up. Though nothing had been given away with what he had read, then again, he had been kept back. And if that made him a petulant dick for having to protect the King, then so be it.

"You have a choice to make there, Jiggle Bitty," he said as he watched her spin on the ball of one foot and glared at the map. "What is it going to be? I will follow your command... to the best of my abilities."

When her eyes lifted and met his, Cobra had to swallow what he saw in their depth. He knew that a Mage could tap into their magic and use it as a source of power, but to see Lucy doing it. And not be aware was rather scary. Because that was no little amount of magic, she was tapping into.

Then in the next second, nothing being said, he was running after her as she made her choice. A smile curled his lips as he watched her run without abandon, ready to fight and kick some ass. He knew she was stronger than she seemed. The damn bitch had bigger cojones than all the men in her damned Guild. He could hear it now, faintly, under the heavy metal music her soul was playing. That there was some serious pain and loss that she kept hidden. Masked while she stayed there for her friends and family. She got an automatic kudos from him on that.

TBC!