Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or Fate Stay Night, any resemblance to any other Fairy Tail or Fate Stay Night fan fiction is coincidental and plagiarism is not intended. No flames please, constructive criticism only.
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In Era the Magic Council was in session once again. The subject this time was Eisenwald and their near assassination of the Guild Masters.
"The dark guild Eisenwald may have been defeated, but that is only one small victory in a much larger battle." Org stated.
"The number of dark guilds has been growing at quite an alarming rate." Michello added.
"We have to come up with a plan to eliminate them all." Leji piped in.
"But how would we do that?" Belno questioned.
"However it's done we cannot allow Zeref's magic to fall into the wrong hands again" Org replied.
"I don't understand how Eisenwald was able to obtain a tool of forbidden magic in the first place." Yajima said.
"I hate to say it, but the blame may extend all the way to the highest levels." Michello stated.
"Whatever the case, although they're usually just a thorn in our sides, Fairy Tail proved to be quite useful this time" Seigrain said
"They took down and entire guild with just a handful of wizards. That is quite a feat." Ultear added, bringing a sleeve to cover her mouth.
Many of the council members spoke up and began voicing their discontent with Fairy Tail when Seigrain interrupted.
"You may not want to accept it but that's the reality of the situation. In the end the attack on the guild masters was prevented, lives were spared, and none of us had to give up our hard earned positions on this council to save face." Seigrain stated.
"You fool, are you insinuating the council is somehow to blame?!" Leji demanded angrily.
"Enough of this nonsense" Org yelled "Fairy Tail's good deeds are overshadowed by their reckless destruction."
"Then why don't we take the opportunity to discuss the matter with them?" Seigrain suggested with a smirk.
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"I was wondering if this fight was going to actually happen considering the gap in ability between the two." Lucy commented looking at the two.
"If they value their manhood then they'd better go through with it." Elfman said
Lucy could see Mirajane and Elfman as well as Macao standing front and centre to get a good view of the impending fight.
"Erza's not a man" Mira pointed out.
"Yeah, but ya gotta admit she's pretty manly." Macao joked.
"If my suspicions about Erza Scarlet are true then that flame head doesn't stand a chance." Lucy stated, directing her vision back towards the fight. The two just seemed to be staring each other down.
"I bet she'll mop the floor with him." Gray said with a smirk.
A flash of light enveloped Erza's body and she reequipped a different armour.
When the transformation finally finished her new armour was revealed. It was made up of gauntlets that resembled dragon's limbs, and a breastplate and greaves, leaving her shoulders as well as her upper arms and thighs exposed. The armour itself was predominantly red but had several orange and black parts with a shape similar to fire. Her hair style also changed into two separate, long pigtails that whose clips gave off the appearance of obsidian dragon horns. Finally, a crimson coloured sword appeared in her right hand.
"That's Flame Empress Armour." Macao stated.
"Aw, come on Erza, at least give the kid a chance." Wakaba said.
"I've heard of it. It's a type of armour reduces the effectiveness of fire attacks by half" Lucy stated.
"Tch, that's not so bad. Actually its good news for me, cuz' now I can turn up the heat as much as I want!" Natsu exclaimed happily, igniting his fists.
"Round one, start." Makarov announced like a ref.
"Hold it!" A voice yelled as a sword crashed between the two grabbing their attention.
They looked and saw the perpetrator was Lucy.
"Hey Lucy what's the big idea?" Natsu demanded
"Relax you'll still get be defeated by Erza Scarlet flame brain" Lucy said reassuringly "I simply want us to change the venue of this fight. I have just the place in mind; it should suit a battle like this just fine. Don't worry the venue I wish to relocate too should suitably impress all of you now come on and follow me."
Everyone looked at each other questioningly then at Makarov who shrugged and followed her causing everyone to follow suit. Eventually Lucy led to a massive yet seemingly empty plot of land at the top of a hill overlooking Magnolia.
"Er….did you want us to fight on this empty place?" Natsu asked "What's better about this place than the street?"
"Just watch" Lucy sighed approaching the plot and raising a finger.
A magic circle appeared and the air began to shatter like glass revealing what could only be described as a palace.
"Woah this place is huge" Cana exclaimed
"It's a palace" Macao said in wonder.
"Indeed it is." Lucy grinned pushing open the golden gates and motioning for everyone to follow.
The crowd followed her through the entrance looked around the garden in wonder at their surroundings. Eventually they stopped at the large ornate doors that were clearly the front entrance. Either side of the steps leading up to them were what would be considered statues if it wasn't for the fact that they were completely life like almost like they were actually people.
"Aren't these solid projection effigies?" Macao asked impressed tone.
"Indeed they are" Lucy confirmed "They cost a pretty penny to have made but I felt it necessary. Plus solid projection looks more realistic than sculptures of stone or metal."
One of the statues was a young woman in her late teens with a slender physique and soft, white skin. She had finely textured golden hair that looked as if it had been sprinkled with gold dust. Her face displayed elegance and regality. She was wearing shining armour with an old styled blue, made from old-fashioned blue cloth, underneath and seemed to be gripping an invisible weapon of some kind.
"King Arturia Pendragon. The King of Knights?" Gray read from the plaque on the projections base.
Erza avoided that statue in favour of the other one. This projection was of a man a tall man standing over two meters in height. He had large muscles and sternly chiselled features with eyes that give off a dazzling glow along with burning red hair and beard. He wears bronze armour with cuffs and greaves with fringes that left his arms and thighs unprotected. He wears a thick mantle, with fringes like his cuffs, dyed in a similar red to his hair. It was luxuriously decorated, and looks like a curtain wrapping the stage of a theatre.
"Iskandar, the King of conquerors" Makarov read from the plaque "I've never heard of these people. Who are they?"
"They are people I encountered once long ago" Lucy answered wistfully
"This guy looks really manly" Elfman said "You know if you look hard enough he kind of looks like Gildarts."
"Hey you're right" Natsu said examining the projection closer.
"Alright come on everyone" Lucy said clapping her hands and opening the front doors "It's time to show you all what I mean."
They all followed her inside of huge residence and through halls that were decorated very lavishly.
"Hey Lucy how did you get this huge place built so fast?" Gray asked "You've only been here like two weeks. But a place like this should take a few months to build at least."
"I simply hired the best builders money could buy" Lucy answered leading them now down a long narrow hallway. "They construction company I used is able to get these kinds of constructions done very quickly, If you have enough money that is. Which I have more plenty of. Here we are"
Lucy shoved open the large doors at the end of the hallway. When they swung open behind was revealed a large coliseum with many rows of seats.
"Here is where you shall do battle" Lucy smirked strolling in "This place make's for a better arena than the street don't you think?"
"The arena itself is large enough for many fighters." Makarov observed "We could hold our brawls in here instead of always trashing the guild. It would certainly save on the repair bills."
"As long as no one trashes the rest of the place then its fine" Lucy consented "Now then shall we get started?"
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All of the guild members took their seats in the front row or get a good view. After Lucy had assured them that none of the attacks would spill out of the arena and into the seating area. Lucy herself was sat in an extravagant looking VIP booth along with Makarov.
"Alright now. Begin"
With Makarov's announcement the match begun and Natsu charged Erza intending to strike first. Apparently very determined to prove that he had gotten stronger.
However the scarlet-haired wizard dodged the attack, after which she swung her sword across the dragon slayer's midsection. Natsu managed to flip his body and formed fire around his foot and slashing said foot at Erza's head, she blocked it with her sword and counterattacked.
The fight continued with the two engaging each other several times in much the same pattern. One of them would attack, and then the other would dodge wand prepare to mount a counterattack.
Natsu was naturally the one who kept being more aggressive with his attacks, however Erza was always a step ahead and blocked the attack before the fight would pause for a few moments before Natsu would attack again only for Erza to dodge and counter. The fight continued to repeat in this pattern.
"See, it's a good fight eh?" Elfman mused.
"This fight sucks." Gray griped, obviously due to the fact that Natsu had not been crushed by Erza yet.
Natsu leaped towards his opponent yet again, opting to deliver a punch at Erza who was preparing to slash at him. However the sounding of a gong, however, caused everyone present to freeze up, even the two combatants. A moment later a rather feminine voice called out, at first confusing those who had heard it.
"This fight is over." An amphibious person stated matter-of-factly as it made its way through the crowd.
"May I have your attention please; I have come here on behalf of the magic council." The apparent messenger said.
"As a result of the Eisenwald incident, a member of your guild has been charged eleven counts of malevolent property destruction. Erza Scarlet, you are under arrest" The messenger stated, her words shocking everyone.
"You're putting her under a-what?!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Who ordered frogs legs?" Lucy demanded
This got chuckles out of a few guild members and a withering look from the messenger.
"Please come along Ms Scarlet" the messenger ordered
"I'll come as well" Lucy sighed.
"I only need Ms Scarlet." The frog person said
"I have business at the Fiore branch of the Magic Council anyway" Lucy said "I may as well take care of it now"
"Very well" The messenger sighed.
"As well as to find out what gave the Magical Council the audacity to intrude upon my property" she mumbled so the messenger could her as well as fixing the frog person with a glare.
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Much later after the Journey Erza and Lucy had arrived at the Magic Councils Fiore branch.
"This is the room. A member of the council will greet you momentarily, please wait here until then." The amphibian stated before walking off down the opposite hall.
"I just want to get this over and done with." Erza said.
"Without saying hello to me? Now I'm hurt." A smug-sounding voice called out from down the hall.
Both of the Fairy Tail members turned to see the approaching form of a white-clad man with blue hair and an odd tattoo around his left eye. Lucy didn't think anything of it at first, but upon seeing a panicked expression courtesy of Erza she became curious at that this person that Erza had met before before, and it was very likely not a pleasant encounter.
'They know each other' Lucy thought to herself 'How interesting'
"Seigrain…" Erza growled out as the man continued to walk closer, her previously shocked expression shifting into an angry glare and an accompanying scowl.
"How are you, Erza?" Seigrain asked with a cocky smirk gracing his features, though his words didn't elicit a response from the redheaded wizard.
"Seigrain" Erza growled.
"Now where are my manners? It's nice to see you again Ms Lucy" Seigrain said, extending his hand.
"It's good to see you again too Seigrain" Lucy chuckled
"Should I assume this is a business visit and not pleasure?" Seigrain chuckled
"Indeed you may" Lucy smirked "I'm here on behalf of Lady Kin"
Erza's eyes widened. Everyone had heard of Lady Kin. She was one of the most absurdly wealthy and secretive individuals on the continent. Guild Masters and country leaders had tried and failed to gain an audience with her in hopes of persuading her to sponsor their group with her vast wealth. When she did something it tended get everyone's attention regardless of how minor it might be. Everyone was looking for a way gain her favour. So far only the King of Fiore had seen her face never mind gained an audience with her. Not only was she vastly wealthy but she was an economic genius, she had pulled Fiore out of what could have been a recession that could have quickly turned into a depression. Making her even more south after by countries and guilds, both magical and otherwise.
"Oh and what might our 'esteemed' council help the Lady with?" Seigrain asked with a chuckle.
"She wishes to invoke the criminal indenture law in regards to certain wizard who was recently arrested" Lucy explained
"Criminal Indenture Law. I've never heard of such a law what is it?" Erza asked
"Allow me" Seigrain cleared his throat "The Criminal Indenture Law is something that has existed since the founding of the Magic Council. You see criminal wizards don't get a real bail instead they get a hypothetical one. To prevent Dark Guilds from getting their buddies out of prison these hypothetical bails are usually set at an excess of nine hundred million jewels for minor criminals alone. So the more severe the crime is, then the greater the bail for the wizard in question will be. As you can imagine these excessive prices will dissuade most Dark Guilds even if they were allowed to invoke the law in the first place. So might I ask which 'lucky' individual has the Lady's attention?"
"Indeed it is the Eisenwald guild member Kageyama" Lucy replied casually
"Kage?" Erza questioned with shock "But why him?"
"Simple, the Lady heard how he managed to break the seal on Lullaby and was impressed by his skill" Lucy stated "As such she wants him working for her."
"But isn't she afraid of him trying something like betraying her and running off?" Erza asked
"That's not possible" Seigrain interjected "You see prisoners 'released' under this law are given a special mark by the Magic Council that is linked to the person bailing them out. If they try any sort of aggressive actions or try to disobey, then the mark will punish them. If they try to kill their new boss then they will suffer the same fate. It might seem cruel but it's rarely invoked and even then it's up to the prisoner whether or not to accept the deal in the first place so it can't really be called slavery. After all it's still their choice whether or not they accept their new boss."
"Well I'll get going" Lucy said walking down the hallway "See you after the trial Erza"
Lucy walked away and vanished from sight leaving Erza alone with Seigrain whom she resumed glaring at.
"Oh can relax Erza" Seigrain said his image flickering "I'm only here in spirit. I'm sending this projection from Era. In fact all the wrinkled faces in that courtroom are projections as well. We didn't think it necessary to be here for such a trivial matter."
"I see so you're the one behind this farce" Erza growled angrily "You make me sick"
"Let's be civil" Seigrain said walk past Erza and stopping "I've always been a staunch defender of Fairy Tail. But the elder's are worried that the blame for Clover's destruction will fall into their laps and the only way to avoid that is to place the blame on someone else entirely. You're their scapegoat."
"Enough!" Erza yelled angrily
"Just a friendly warning" Seigrain said civilly "In fact it's another matter altogether I wish to discuss with you."
The white-clad man walked up to Erza and cupped her chin and brought his head closer to hers, staring directly into her eyes with a small smirk.
"Don't let a word slip about you know what… for both of our sakes." Seigrain whispered.
The Council Member pulled back from her and walked into the courtroom to join his colleagues. Erza stayed where she was and glared rather heavily at the retreating blue-haired man. When he was gone she let her glare vanish and her anger subside.
'Jellal I know that you're in there somewhere' Erza thought 'I also know that you want me for the Tower, when that time comes I will save you from whatever magic has taken control of you.'
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Kageyama sat in his cell contemplating everything that had happened during the incident with Lullaby. It was a major pain to acquire Lullaby in the first place and then dispelling the seals that the Magic Council had placed on it. Everything seemed like it was smooth sailing from there until that Fairy Tail fly saw him on the train and then everything started to go down hill.
He had tried to continue the plan despite that bastard Karacka trying to kill him. He managed to acquire the Lullaby and even stole that vehicle just like that scary girl had suggested. He'd even gotten to Clover before the flies could catch up to him, but that old mans words struck chord inside him. The old man had completely drained his will to fight just by talking to him causing Kageyama to surrender.
Then Lullaby turned out to actually be a demon created by Zeref which wanted to devour the souls of every wizard near it. Thankfully Erza Scarlet managed to destroy it however that didn't stop him from winding up in a jail cell.
'At least I'm away from that bastard Karacka' Kage thought to himself resentfully before his thoughts drifted to that girl Lucy 'That is one scary girl, I'd swear she knew that Lullaby was a demon all along. That make's sense, she wanted me to target her own guild master because she knew he'd be able to talk me down. She set me up to fail on purpose knowing that Lullaby would show its true form out of frustration. Her true objective was getting Erza Scarlet to fight but I have a hard time believing that she did all of this just for shits and giggles. No she had something else in mind I just know it."
"Not that it matters anymore" Kageyama sighed leaning back onto his cell cot "With all the charges me and the others are facing we'll be spending the rest of our natural lives in jail."
"Maybe the rest of your 'friends' will, but depending on your choices you might not have to." An amused voice echoed through his cell.
"Whose there?" Kageyama demanded sitting up "Show yourself"
"I'm right here" Kageyama looked and outside of his cell was none other than Lucy Heartfilia with a cat like grin on her face. "You! But what do you want? The oath keeps me bound so what more could you want from me?"
"I'm here to tell you that I'm sufficiently impressed by you." Lucy replied "You managed to break through the Magic Council's seals on Lullaby and you were played your part well in my plan. So I am here to extend a reward, your freedom. In a sense."
"Freedom?" Kageyama parroted "My crimes have accumulated enough years to keep me in prison for the rest of my life and because my more severe crimes have eyewitnesses I'll be spending the rest of my natural life in here, and Dark Wizards like me don't get a real bail."
"Indeed which is why I'm offering you this"
Lucy extended her hand and held a scroll through the bars which Kageyama took it and read what it said. His eyes bulged out of their sockets when he finished reading it.
"You want to invoke the Criminal Indenture Law with me?" Kageyama exclaimed with shock "But the money alone to pay for me would be a ridiculous sum…"
"Which I can easily pay for" Lucy replied confidently
"But why me?" Kageyama asked still shocked and confused "There other wizards-"
"I don't want other wizards I want you." Lucy cut him off "The fact is that you managed to steal Lullaby from the Magic Council without them noticing and to top it off you dispelled the seal they put it. For someone from such a minor Dark Guild those are quite impressive feats. I am offering you something that most idiots in your position can only dream of….a way out."
Kageyama gulped but found himself entranced by her words and continued to listen despite the frightening aura she gave off.
"You have two choices" a pair of chess pieces appeared in Lucy's hand one was a knocked over golden pawn and the other was a bishop "Option number one you stay here in this cell and spend the rest your life rotting." She placed the knocked over pawn down the ground on its side "Choice number two, Become my servant and be greatly rewarded for your services. Know this I always reward those who are faithful to me, also I have no need to betray those who serve me unlike you're so called 'friends' who tried to kill you."
With that she set the bishop piece down on the ground and bridged her hands beneath her chin and looked at him waiting and watching.
Kageyama stared at the two chess pieces and gulped.
'This is my chance' he thought 'I can get out of here but, this girl is frightening. She's not hiding the fact that to her I'll just be another piece on a board to be used whenever and however she wants. But I once heard that there are people out there that have no need to lie simply because they have enough power that it becomes necessary. This girl is one of those people. Plus she did say that she rewarded the loyal. At this point what do I have to lose? Eisenwald is finished and that bastard Erigor doesn't care about any of us. He ran at the first opportunity.'
Turning those thoughts over in his mind after a few moments Kageyama made his decision and grabbed the piece that would seal his fate.
"Good choice" Lucy smirked at the piece he'd chosen and returned both it and the unchosen one to the Gate of Babylon. "As I said my vassals are rewarded for their loyalty. Be prepared Kageyama for your life is about to change forever."
She had a smile on her face that sent chills up Kageyama's spine; even Erigor wasn't as scary as this girl.
"However before that I have some other more important business to attend too" Lucy stood up and began walking away "You'll be released in a few days, when that happens some of my people will take you to a manor where you'll study the rare tomes on dispelling and shadow magic. Wait for my summons, for that is when I'll start making use of you."
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Later on the trial had ended and Erza walked out of the courtroom. She had been given a hefty fine by the Council but it wasn't anything a decent job couldn't pay. After her cuffs were removed she rubbed her wrists and saw Lucy sitting on a bench with an unconscious Natsu near her feet.
Natsu was dressed up in a ridiculous mock up of her Heavens Wheel armour. He clearly intended to disrupt the trial but thankfully it seemed Lucy had stopped him.
"So he came." Erza sighed
"Yes I don't think the idiot understood that this trial was just a formality" Lucy chuckled "If he'd broken in you and he would be spending a while a cell. Good thing I got to him before that isn't it?"
"Yes thank you" Erza sighed grabbing Natsu by the hair and dragged him along with her as they walked outside "I suppose we should get going before the guild gets worried."
"Indeed we should and I have a mode of transportation that will get us back faster than any mere vehicle" Lucy grinned "Behold"
A large golden ripple appeared in the air and out of it came the Vimana ready to fly. Lucy boarded it and sat on the throne without hesitation, Erza paused for a few seconds before tossing Natsu on like a ragdoll and boarding the Vimana herself.
Something occurred to Erza they took off and began flying back towards Magnolia.
"How do you know Lady Kin?" Erza said "I'm curious because even some country leaders don't get an audience with her. As far as I know only the King of Fiore as ever even seen her face never mind gained an audience, so how are you familiar with her?"
"We are very close" Lucy replied looking at her own reflection in the polished gold of the Vimana "Almost inseparable you might say."
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A bit later Lucy and Erza were welcomed back to the Guild with many happy that Erza wasn't actually arrested, while Natsu was running around like a fool spewing flames jubilantly.
"Isn't he just precious when he gets all excited," Mirajane chuckled
"So Erza wasn't a sacrificial lamb, but a scapegoat," Gray nodded.
"You must be one hell of an ice wizard cause even your jokes leave me cold," Elfman muttered "Hey Natsu, you gonna finish going man to man with Erza?"
Natsu stopped dead in his tracks.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. So what do you say, wanna pick up where we left off?"
"I'm not in the mood right now," Erza stated sipping her drink.
"I'm not letting you off the hook that easy!" Natsu yelled charging at Erza with a flaming fist.
"I swear…" Erza grumbled and drove her fist hard into Natsu's gut "How's that? Are you satisfied?"
"And he's out!" Happy declared
Both Gray and Elfman burst out laughing while Lucy ignored the scene taking a drink of her wine from her goblet.
"Way to go, champ," Gray commented.
"Guess we know who the real man is," Elfman laughed along with Gray
"Sir is something wrong?" Mirajane asked as Makarovs head dropped for a second.
"I'm fine, just sleepy." he replied "He's coming."
Just as he said this Mirajane collapsed on the floor completely asleep.
"Not again," Gray complained, also falling to sleep.
Master Makarov watched in silence as everyone around fell asleep where they sat, some falling to the floor from their seats.
"Mystogan…"
A man wearing armour that was coloured a bottomless black. His was covered by a deep black helmet with a thinly carved red slit. Along with it was a strange aura that seemed to distort the armour and allow no details of the person underneath to slip through.
However before Mystogan could get any further into the guild he saw two weapons being launched at him at inhuman speeds. So running on pure instinct he grabbed the first weapon which was a sword and used it to deflect the second weapon which was a spear.
"How interesting" a voice commented.
Mystogan looked to see that the owner was a girl with crimson eyes and long golden hair who was, to his surprise, unaffected by his Sleep Spell.
"The sheer force of that sword should have torn off your arm." She commented standing up and walking up to Mystogan "Yet you were able to catch it and use it to deflect that spear as if you had been using that sword your entire life."
Lucy stood in Mystogan way as he tensed ready to fight.
"Is there something you need?" Mystogan asked as Lucy looked over and studied him like he was a specimen in a laboratory.
"You've helped me prove a theory, I am not the only heroic spirit that has been reborn" Lucy smiled as Mystogan tensed at her words clearly he knew what she meant "For that I will forgive you for daring to lay your hands on my treasures."
"I do believe you remind me of a mad dog I once encountered" Lucy commented as she went to sit back down.
With Lucy out of his way Mystogan went over to the board and took a job request from it, before going to the Master.
"I shall return."
"No wait, lift your sleeping spell before you leave," Makarov ordered
"5…"
Mystogan began walking away, heading for the door and gave Lucy a passing glance as he passed her.
"4…"
Lucy gave him a small smile in return.
"3…"
"2…"
"1…"
Mystogan disappeared into the bright sunlight just as everyone began to wake up.
"Ah man, was Mystogan here?" Jet asked.
"What a jerk," Droy complained.
"Does he have to put us to sleep every time he comes here?" Levy asked, rubbing her eyes.
"If you didn't know he's a contender for Fairy Tail's strongest wizard," Elfman informed Lucy.
"Is that a fact?"
"Yeah and for some reason he doesn't want anyone to see what he looks like," Gray added, the two still unaware of their hands touching, "So whenever he comes here to take a job he casts a sleeping spell."
Lucy chose not to speak and instead took a sip of wine from her goblet.
"Master Makarov's the only one who's gotten a good look at his face," Gray added.
"That's not true, I've seen him before."
"Laxus!" Elfman said shocked.
"Talk about rare," Macao commented.
"Yeah, you're never here," Wakaba added.
"And here's another contender," Gray said, resting his head in his hand.
"Mystogan's just a little shy, you should all respect his privacy," Laxus teased, wearing his cocky grin. "Not to mention the new girl got a look at him and even attacked him."
"You fought Mystogan?" Gray asked turning to Lucy with wide eyes.
"No, I gave him a taste of what happens when you dare to try putting the king to sleep against her will and he managed to survive and confirm something for me" Lucy explained "As gratitude I allowed him to keep his life even though he touched one of my treasures."
"Your pretty confident about yourself new girl" Laxus commented
"I have every reason to be" Lucy replied not bothering to look at him.
As if awakened by Laxus voice Natsu jumped to his feet, fists ablaze.
"Alright Laxus, you and me, right now!"
"Getting your ass kicked once today wasn't enough?" Gray questioned
"Yeah pal," agreed Laxus, "If you can't even win against the red-head, why bother with me?"
"What're you trying to say?" Erza asked angrily.
"No need to get all worked up, Erza," Gray nervously said.
"I'm saying that I'm the strongest wizard."
"Then come down and prove it!" Natsu demanded.
"You come to me little man," Laxus goaded the dragon slayer with a smirk.
"With pleasure!"
Master Makarov slammed an enlarged fist on top of Natsu squashing him to the floor.
"You're not allowed on the second floor, Natsu, at least not yet," Makarov said firmly.
"Heh, think you made him grumpy," Laxus teased the dragon slayer.
"Shut up!"
"That's enough out of you, Laxus!" Makarov scolded.
"The most powerful wizard in the guild isn't a chick or some hooded weirdo, you wanna know what the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail looks like, you're looking right at him!"
This statement earned him a scowls from Natsu, Erza and Gray but otherwise nobody wanted to say anything to challenge him.
"Ahahahahahahaha!"
Well almost nobody.
The entire guild turned to the source of the laughter which turned out to be Lucy.
"You find something I said funny new girl?" Laxus demanded with annoyance that caused most of the guild to sweat nervously.
"I was just thinking about something I heard, you tell size of a mongrel by the sound of their bark." Lucy said sipping from her wine "The louder the bark the smaller the mongrel and you have a very loud bark indeed."
"You've got some nerve, talking to me like that!" Laxus growled lightning magic arcing over his body. "I dare you to call me that again."
"Lucy stop, you don't know who you're dealing with here" Gray whispered trying to get Lucy to stop, to no avail as she was ignoring him "Laxus is a different league than Erza."
"The whole time you were moving your mouth in fact all I could here was Arf, arf arf arf" Lucy kept on going which caused most of the guild to back away from her "It was very shrill, the shrillest I've ever heard from a mongrel."
"RAAGGHH!" Laxus roared and shot a bolt at Lucy in rage.
Lucy didn't even bother to look, instead she took a sip from her goblet of wine again, raised her free hand and extended a finger which blocked the bolt and caused it to dissipate.
"No way" Macao said as the entire guild gaped.
"She blocked Laxus lightning bolt with one finger?" Wakaba asked incredulously.
The guild broke out into hushed murmuring.
"Erza, did you see how she did that?" Gray asked
"Look at her hand Gray"
Gray did so and saw that on her hand was a golden gauntlet that quickly dissolved into golden sparkles.
"It's the armour she used to tear down the Wind Barrier." Gray realised "She summoned it fast enough to block Laxus attack?"
"Yes, she used only one gauntlet on purpose; she's trying to pick a fight with Laxus."
"But why?" Gray asked still hushed
"This is a girl who doesn't think like we do, everything she does is done according to her owns whims." Erza replied "She has a huge ego and because of that she has become a person who is truly without fear, whether she doesn't feel it or doesn't know what it is I don't know."
"Alright rookie, you've had your chance now we're settle this." Laxus growled.
"NO! Not here, not now" Makarov said with a tone of finality. "If you want to fight then tomorrow at noon at the arena in Lucy's manor. You can both settle this there."
"Fine by me, when I'm done breaking you rookie I'm gonna make you my woman and use as an example to anyone who thinks they're better than me."
"By all means do try" Lucy replied casually standing up. "Try not to disappoint me. I hate fighting people those are all talk."
With that Lucy began walking out of the guild but not before stopping at Natsu, crouching down and gripping his head.
"Don't think I've forgotten you, I'm still angry with you for that Everlue incident." Lucy growled "I can hold a grudge for the rest of your days."
"Aw come on that was like forever ago you can't still be mad about that" Natsu cried
Lucy ignored him and left the guild causing the members to let out a breath.
"She's gonna fight Laxus?"
"Is she crazy?"
"She must have a death wish."
Erza ignored the whispers going around the guild and stared after Lucy.