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.
AN: Before I forget shout out to Warmachine375 for helping me out and suggesting the personality shift and balance for Lucy. If you haven't read his story Fairy's Sin you should its an awesome read.
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"Was that an awesome job or what?" Natsu laughed as he and the rest of the team walked through the streets of Magnolia heading back to the guild.
"Well, the client sure seemed to think so." Happy replied.
"Face it; you guys are just lucky that I decided to come along." Gray scoffed.
"We're lucky that you begged to come with us?" Natsu countered. "How do yah figure?"
"Because you're as helpful as one of Erza's suitcases!" Gray responded.
"You better watch your mouth or I'm gonna pack you like a suitcase, pal!" Natsu growled getting in Grays face.
"That doesn't make any sense." Gray retorted pushing his face against Natsu.
"Enough boys!" Erza demanded getting between the two and easily forcing them apart. "Now please get dressed."
"For crying out loud how does this keep happening?!" Gray's expression fell into shock when he saw that he stripped down to his boxers again.
"Piece of advice, Gray never get in a fight in your underwear." Happy advised
"Hey, there's something I want to know…" Lucy intervened.
"What's up?" Natsu asked.
"This job is a solo mission. So, why did you all come along?" She asked holding the request, which showed a five hundred jewel reward.
"Oh come on, isn't it obvious?" the Dragon Slayer asked.
"No not really." Lucy replied.
"We're Fairy Tail's strongest team, so we have to stick together." Natsu answered giving her a toothy grin and a thumbs up.
"Aye sir," Happy agreed.
"And don't you forget it." Gray added.
Erza only nodded in agreement.
"No job is too tough." Natsu stated with confidence. "Not for me, Happy, Erza, and even droopy drawers here."
"Don't call me that." Gray grumbled.
"We are quite a capable bunch." Erza admitted happily.
"Aye," Happy agreed.
"Hey Lucy" Gray spoke up grabbing her attention.
"Yes?"
"There's something I don't understand."
"What?"
"Well you've been acting differently lately." Gray asked "No offence but you've been acting well….nice for a change. I mean, when we got injured you were concerned, usually you wouldn't care at all and you used your Celestial Spirits more than that Gate of yours."
It was true, Lucy was acting like a different person, her tone was softer, her personality was kinder and her disposition was sunnier than it had ever been since they had met her. She had even made a single arrogant declaration once since the day had started, which while certainly less grating the others found odd.
"Hmmmm….." Lucy let out a thoughtful sound, everyone leaned in to hear her answer. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She said cheerfully causing everyone to face plant "I'm always this way."
"I don't think I'll ever understand you." Gray mumbled picking himself up.
"You shouldn't worry yourself so much Gray you'll get wrinkles and look like an old man really quick." Lucy teased causing Natsu to laugh and Gray to wave his fist threateningly at the dragon slayer.
As the team strolled down the street, passing Magnolia citizens stared at them and whispered to one another. They looked at them with what appeared to be sympathy.
"What are they all staring at?" Lucy asked looking at the crowd.
"It's not the good kind of staring." Happy commented.
"It feels like pity" Erza stated.
She abruptly stopped and looked at something.
The rest of the group followed her gaze and were dumbstruck. From the distance, the Guild Hall looked very peculiar. They couldn't see much, but from here there appeared to be large metal columns sticking out in random spots all over the building.
"What? Why does the Guild look so…bizarre?" Erza wondered.
The Team continued down the path that led to the Guild Hall. When they finally reached their destination, they were dumbstruck. Several giant metal pillars were protruding out guild hall; one was even sticking out through the Fairy Tail sign above the front entrance.
"No way," Gray muttered.
"What's happened to it?" Erza asked.
Lucy raised her eyebrow at the guild hall, quite surprised that someone would attack Fairy Tail. A dark guild would have destroyed it and likely part of the town instead of merely vandalising the place so it was unlikely to be one of them, so that only left either a legal guild or a very cocky wizard wanting to pick a fight with an entire guild.
A moment passed as the group stood stationary, gazing in a mixture of surprise, confusion, and in Natsu's case, anger.
"Our Guild," Natsu snarled, clenching his fists. "Someone did this to our Guild."
"But who would do such a thing?" Titania wondered.
"It was Phantom Lord." a female voice answered.
The team, minus Natsu, turned around to see Mirajane standing behind them, ready to break into tears.
"Are you serious?" Gray said calmly.
"You mean Phantom did this?" Natsu growled as he turned to look at Mirajane with pure fury in eyes.
"We couldn't do anything to stop them. They got us good." Mirajane sobbed.
"Phantom Lord…...that name sounds familiar for some reason" Lucy said aloud stroking her chin thoughtfully.
"Phantom Lord, are a powerful rival Guild." Gray explained to Lucy "We've never been on the best terms with those jerks…as you can see."
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The group proceeded into the building and headed down a flight of stairs that led to the basement. The basement was usually used for storage but since there were iron pillars everywhere, it was the only place in the Guild Hall unaffected by the devastation.
The rest of the Guild was sitting at makeshift tables, either eating, drinking, or brooding. Anyone could tell that their morale was very low.
"Yo! What's up kids?" Makarov slurred, holding obviously drunk if the mug of beer was any indication.
"Hello" Lucy greeted brightly ignoring Makarovs drunken state.
"Sorry we weren't here sooner." Erza added, skipping greetings.
"Why the heck are you all just sitting around down here?!" Natsu demanded angrily.
Natsu was ignored as the old wizard shifted his gaze to Lucy. "How did it go, Lucy? Did yah finish the job like a good girl?"
"Yes, I think it went pretty well." Lucy replied still feeling cheerful.
"Master," Erza said firmly, "do you not understand the gravity of the situation?"
"The Guild Hall has been completely destroyed!" Natsu shouted.
"There's no need to get yourselves worked up." Makarov responded as he took a big gulp of beer. "It's not like it's the end of the world or anything."
"What?" Gray asked stunned at the master's reply.
"It just goes to show you how cowardly those dunderheads in the Phantom Lord Guild really are." Makarov continued "They struck when no one was here, is that anything worth bragging about?"
"Nobody was here?" Erza queried.
"It was after everyone had already left for the night." Mirajane explained quietly.
"I suppose we can be thankful for that." Erza sighed in relief. "At least no one in our guild was hurt in the attack."
"We shouldn't trouble ourselves with people who don't even have the guts to face us head on." Makarov asserted. "Forget about those fools."
Suddenly, Natsu slammed his fist into a wooden crate, putting a large hole in it sending wood chips flying.
"Ain't gonna happen, gramps!" the pink haired wizard shouted angrily. "We can't just let them trash our place and get away with it!"
"We're not talking about this any longer." Makarov replied calmly. "We'll handle job requests down here until the upstairs is repaired."
"We shouldn't be worrying about jobs right no-"
"NATSU!" Makarov yelled cutting off the Dragon Slayer. "That's enough out of you!"
"Be warned, copping a feel will cost you." Lucy stated her cheerfulness not dropping for moment, an arm and the hand attached to it to freeze just short of her rear and retract back to a sheepishly chuckling Makarov.
"Hands to yourself, master!" Mirajane admonished puffing her cheeks in irritation.
The master of Fairy Tail then jumped off the crate he was sitting on and ran across the room.
"Where are you going old man?" Natsu demanded still infuriated.
"Oh, keep your dress on." Makarov retorted. "I gotta take a leak."
"I don't understand why he's being like this." Natsu said as his ire dimmed looking at the floor.
"Listen, this is just as hard on him as it is for you. " Mirajane said her tone becoming subdued again. "He's mad, but conflict between the Guilds is strictly forbidden by the council."
"But that's not fair!" yelled Natsu. "Those Phantom creeps started it!"
"I know, but that doesn't matter." The white haired girl responded.
"If the master's decision is to not retaliate, then we must respect it." Erza said with a hint of reluctance in her voice.
"Relax Natsu." Lucy said putting her arms behind her head. "In the eyes of the law what happened to our guild is basically vandalism, at best we can file a complaint with the Magic Council and they'll be fined for the repairs and that will be the end of the matter."
"But!"
"Even if we went and attacked Phantom Lord right now it will only end badly." Lucy stated shaking her head.
"But we could easily stomp those assholes!" Natsu protested.
"Defeating them isn't the problem." Lucy replied gently "The problem is who throws the first punch."
"What are you talking about?" Natsu asked confused.
"The guild which engages in violence first will be the one who looks the worst in the eyes of the Magic Council" Lucy said sighing "So if we were throw the first punch and start a war over petty vandalism even when we win, the Magic Council would disband Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord would be left alone because they would the victims of being attacked just for vandalising something which can be fixed."
"So what, we're gonna do nothing?!"
"For now yes." Lucy replied calmly as she examined the request board looking over the job postings "If Phantom Lord really wants a war, then they'll get impatient from our lack of retaliation and do something stupid, like attack someone from the guild. If and only If that happens can we strike back and claim self-defence."
"So we have to wait? I hate waiting." Natsu complained.
"But we have no choice, unless you want Fairy Tail to be disbanded." Lucy stated.
"She's right Natsu." Makarov said as he returned and hopped back up onto his crate. "It's better for the guild in the long run if Phantom Lord are the ones who start it and that's only I they really are looking for a fight. So just let it go for now."
While Natsu grumbled angrily Lucy tore job off the board and showed it to Makarov to get it signed off.
"Huh, a request to stop some dark guild raids on a village." Makarov read off the request Lucy was showing him. "This is the one you want?"
"Yes, this time I'll be going by myself." Lucy declared "I can handle it."
"Alright." Makarov approved the job and handed the poster back to her "Here ya go."
"Thank you." Lucy replied pocketing the poster.
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"What a mess." Lucy sighed as she walking along the canal's edge with Plue who she'd summoned for company. "Phantom Lord, what do they hope to gain from this? I bet this rivalry is born from petty jealousy. "
Plue wobbled along happily, humming to himself.
Eventually Lucy made it back to her manor and entered, immediately heading for her room. When she entered she gasped in surprise at what she saw.
"Your bedrooom is very nice." Erza complimented sitting at a table with a cup of tea.
"What are you all doing in my here?" Lucy asked curiously. At another time she might have been flustered or angry but right now she was feeling pretty cheerful despite everything going on.
"Since the guild's been attacked we can assume Phantom Lord members are in town," Erza said matter-of-factly, sipping some tea.
"They've probably found out where everyone in Fairy Tail lives by now," Gray added. "Mira, said it'd be safer if we held up together. You know, strength in numbers."
"Well that makes sense I guess." Lucy relented.
"That's why everyone in Fairy Tail is having a slumber party tonight!" Happy said changing the subject from what he was about to say.
"You are an attractive teenage girl after all. I wasn't entirely comfortable with you just being alone here with Natsu and Gray." Erza said with a smile. "I felt I could only relax if I stayed here as well."
"It's not time to relax," Natsu grumbled with a huff as he sprawled himself out on the floor.
"So it was already decided that you're all going to stay with me?" Lucy sighed not really wanting to get angry.
"Woah, you sure have a lot of dirty clothes," Happy said, rummaging through her things.
"What're you doing?! Get outta my stuff cat!"
"Hey Plue, you find something to eat? Don't go hogging it all!" Natsu said, scrambling over to the Celestial Spirit who was eating a lollipop that it had found.
"Look Erza I found something you might like," Happy said as he pulled out a finely decorated long wooden box that the cat had partly opened.
Lucy watched Erza go over to Happy and fully open the box, only to gasp loudly and back away as she saw what it contained within.
"Whats the matter Erza?" Natsu asked he crawled over too look.
Within the box he saw a single long-sword hilt. The hilt and guard of the sword was decorated with a deep blue and golden pattern, the rough edge of the blade made it appear as if it had been pulled from a stone.
"It's just a sword, what's wrong?" Natsu asked confused.
"Don't you like it?" Happy inquired.
Erza didn't answer and simply slammed the box shut and shoved it back underneath the bed where Happy had found it. Her face was shadowed by her hair and she remained silent, not saying anything.
"Hey Lucy what's with that sword?" Natsu asked "Why is it making Erza act like this?"
"That sword is called Caliburn, the Golden Sword of Assured Victory." Lucy replied "It is also called the Sword of Selection or the Sword of Appointment. It is meant to choose kings as it chose King Arthur to rule Britain. In the legends King Arthur broke the rules of chivalry and so the sword shattered forcing the King get a replacement which was Excalibur. In another life I met king Arthur and decided she would make an excellent bride, I knew she would return to me one day so I went to her country and tracked down the pieces and meticulously re-forged the sword. I stored it in my Gate of Babylon and intended to give it to her as wedding present."
"So what happened?" Natsu asked wanting to hear more forgetting about Erza for the moment.
"She rejected me, but I have not given up." Lucy said clenching her fist with determination "I'll find her and try again."
"Wait you said she? But isn't Arthur and guy's name?" Gray asked.
"Her real name was Arturia but she hid her gender and pretended to be a man so the fools of her country would accept her as a king." Lucy answered with a sigh "They were still of the puny mind-set that only men can be kings."
"Wait, didn't you say Arturia was a she?" Gray asked "And aren't you a girl too?"
"Why is there a problem?" Lucy asked giving Gray a dark look.
"Woah, no, no problems here I'm just curious is all, I swear." Gray answered quickly holding his hands up.
"For your information, this was a past life in which I was a man." Lucy stated "But I'll find her, whether she is a man or woman in this new life it matters not. I will find her and I will get her to accept my feelings, even if it takes until the end of time."
"Well don't give up, I'm sure you'll win her over eventually." Natsu said encouragingly.
"We have a serious problem here, you boys hygiene." Erza interrupted changing the subject. "I refuse to sleep in a room that reeks of sweat."
"I don't wanna take a bath right now," Natsu whined.
"But I already got into bed," Gray agreed lying on Lucy's bed.
"Come on boys, do we have to take a bath together like when we were kids?" Erza asked, making both boy blush with embarrassment at those memories.
"What kind of relationship do you guys have exactly?" Lucy asked with a smirk.
"They're the strongest team!" Happy cheered.
"Well the strongest team can have their bath after mine." Lucy said as she left to go have a bath.
"Ok seriously." Gray piped up after Lucy was gone "Am I the only one who notices that she's acting way nicer than she ever has?"
"As much as I hate to agree with the stripper, he's got a point its kind a weird." Natsu commented.
"According to what the master told me personality fluctuations like this aren't uncommon with her." Erza stated "He never told me his source but apparently the Egotistical Narcissist and this kind and gentle one are both parts of Lucy personality and she frequently witches between the two without noticing herself. It's probably for the best if we just let it happen."
"I guess." Gray sighed staring at the door.
"I'm going to go take my bath now too." Erza said standing up and following Lucy out.
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"You sure this is okay?" Droy asked as Team Shadow Gear walked down the streets of Magnolia after the sun had set.
"Shouldn't you stay with Laki and the others at the girls dorm?" Jet agreed.
"It's fine, I don't want to split up our team," Levy replied happily, unaware of the blushes on her teammates faces.
"The three of us can face anything together!" Jet cheered.
"I'll always protect you," Droy added, with just as much enthusiasm as Jet.
"No, I will!" argued Jet.
The three stopped turned around as they heard something rushing at them from behind. They didn't even have time to cry out before darkness took them.
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Lucy quietly emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and another one around her damp hair.
"Okay Natsu, I'm done with my bath it's your turn." she said before pausing and chuckling when she saw that he'd fallen asleep.
"Wanna take his place?" Lucy asked Gray.
"Mm."
"You should, if was so relaxing," Erza sighed sitting on the bed wearing just her towel to conceal her modesty.
"Glad you're all so comfortable." Lucy smirked as she shook her head.
"I suppose I should get dressed," Erza said before using her Requip Magic to change into her Heart Kreuz pyjamas. "Is this more appropriate?"
"You really like using that Requip Magic don't you?" Lucy said as she watched Erza make herself another cup of tea.
"It still doesn't make sense for Phantom to commit an act of vandalism out of the blue like that." Lucy sighed "Do you have any ideas as to why they'd try to provoke a fight now?"
"I'm afraid I don't," Erza replied crossing her arms and getting a thoughtful look on her face, "We have had our fair share of scuffles with them in the past, but never anything on this sort of magnitude before."
"If Gramps wasn't so scared of them we could wipe out those punks once and for all." Natsu grumbled now awake.
"Come on, you know Master isn't afraid of them Natsu," Gray interjected, "You seem to be forgetting he's one of the Ten Wizard Saints."
Lucy looked at Gray and widened her eyes when she saw what he was reading.
"I never gave you permission to read that!" she cried snatching the papers he was reading out of his hand.
"You can't snatch it outta my hands without at least telling me what happens next," Gray argued.
"Yes, I can," Lucy countered, "If you wanna read it then you'll have to buy a copy when its published like everyone else."
Erza extended her hand towards Lucy and held it out expectantly.
"You're not getting a sneak preview either." Lucy said to her with exasperation.
Gray huffed loudly and crossed his arms.
"The Ten Wizard saints are the most powerful wizards on the continent if I recall." Lucy stated "The strongest among them are called the Four Gods of Ishgar right?"
"Yes that's correct." Erza confirmed "I heard that a few years ago Warrod stepped down from his position as one of the Four Gods in favour of another recommended by God Serena himself. Though no one knows that person's identity and neither Warrod nor the other three are talking."
"Phantom Lord's Master Jose is one of the three wizard saints too." Happy added.
'That's true,' Erza thought, thinking of Seigrain, 'And so is he.'
Natsu slammed his hands on the table.
"He is afraid! He's scared that Phantom has too many members for us to handle!"
"Inside voice voice Natsu." Lucy ordered "Your voice echoes in this place."
"That is not true and you know it. It's just like Master and Lucy said, the consequences of us going to war with Phantom are nowhere near worth the fight." Gray said, "The order of the magical world is at stake here."
"They ain't got nothing on us," Natsu boasted, "We could crush those clowns easy."
"No," Erza intervened with a stern tone. "If we were to fight them then neither guild would survive. Their strength equals ours. Phantom Lords Master Jose is also one of the Ten Wizard Saints, which means he's on par with Makarov. They also have an elite group of wizards similar to our S-Class known as the Element Four. However, their biggest threat may be 'Black Steel Gajeel,' I believe that he's most likely the one behind the guild halls destruction. He's known as the Iron Dragon Slayer."
"Another Dragon Slayer eh?" Lucy tilted her head to the side "They must be less rare than I thought."
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Meanwhile at Phantom Lords Guild hall Gajeel was trying to eat a plate full of metal but was being bother by another one of his Guild mates bragging about what Gajeel had done to their rival guild.
"So Gajeel, I heard you made a mess out of Fairy Tails guild hall. Ah man, I wish I coulda seen the looks on their faces. They probably ran away crying to their mommies. Boo-hoo! Somebody broke my play house! Hahahahah!"
Gajeels arm stretched out, turning into a giant iron rod and smashing into the man's face which sent him flying. The other Phantom Lord members around the guild hall burst into laughter at the sight.
"How many times do I have to tell ya?" he growled as his arm returned to normal, "I don't like to be bothered while I'm eating! And besides, those Fairy Tail clowns can't challenge us, we're way more powerful than they could ever hope to be."
"The die has been cast. I compliment your excellent work, Gajeel," said Master Jose as he entered the room and looked down from a balcony.
"I didn't think we were hard enough on 'em." Gajeel said darkly "So I decided to leave them a little somethin' extra. A present that's sure to get those Fairy Tailers panties in a knot."
"Very good, my boy." Jose praised the Iron Dragon Slayer "Now all we need to do is wait for Minerva to accomplish her mission and acquire our guest of honour."
"Hopefully the kid won't screw things up." Gajeel said "She may be the world's worst singer but she is a decent fighter."
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"So you all used Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide where you sleep?" Lucy asked, sitting on her bed, "Why wasn't I included?"
"This is your home, Lucy, we wouldn't take your bed away from you," Gray said.
"But we did have to decide which two were going to sleep on the floor and who would share the bed with you," Erza informed her as she unrolled a sleeping bag.
"Well if it's one of the boys who won your little contest, I hope he doesn't mind castration as the condition for sharing a bed with me." Lucy said with a cheerful smile and far too happy tone which made both boys shiver, before they decided to allow Erza to have the bed with Lucy.
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The next morning Gray, Natsu and Erza had gotten dressed and left Lucy's manor and were now at the Magnolia Southgate Park.
"Lucy was gone when we woke up, not even a goodbye." Natsu grumbled.
"Well she did say that she wanted to do that mission alone." Erza replied "She probably woke up early so she could leave without being followed.
"Hey what's going on here?" Gray asked as a crowd of people looking at something blocked their way.
"Hey isn't Team Shadow Gear from Fairy Tail?" One person in the crowd asked.
"What happened?" Another questioned
"Excuse us, we're from their guild," Erza ordered as she marched through the crowd which parted for her, Natsu and Gray. "Please let us through."
They were frozen by shock as they stared at the large oak tree before them. Clamped to its trunk with iron was team Shadow Gear, Phantom Lords symbol painted on Levy's bare skin.
"Levy, Jet, Droy!" Gray cried out seeing the three.
"Phantom Lord did this." Natsu growled as he began visibly shaking with rage.
"Master…" Erza said quietly as Makarov joined them.
"I can take our headquarters being reduced to rubble, but I will not let harm come to my children without taking revenge! " Master Makarov growled as he crushed the staff in his hand. " We have no choice but to go to war!"
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Meanwhile a few miles away at the small town of Vernos Lucy had gathered the towns people into the Town Hall and set up a barrier Noble Phantasm to keep them safe while she dealt with the Dark Guild Raiders. The barrier was insurance in case someone amongst the raiders had more than one brain cell and decided to try sneaking around her to get to the townsfolk.
Luckily her Noble Phantasm was stronger than a fortress wall, so a bunch of raiders would never be able to break it.
"Here they come." Lucy smiled as she saw a motely crowd with similar tattoos on their bodies gathering on a nearby hill. "This is a gonna be a piece of cake." She smirked pulling a pair of keys from her Gate of Babylon. "Open Gate of the Maiden and the Golden Bull, Virgo and Taurus!"
From their respective gates appeared Taurus and a now petite Virgo whom Lucy had established a contract with a few days ago.
"You called Princess?" Virgo asked using the name Lucy had asked for, not wishing to be called my king by Virgo.
"Alright you two." Lucy summoned a War axe for Taurus and some Greaves and Gauntlets for Virgo. "Those idiots over there are from a Dark Guild and want to get to the townsfolk behind us." Lucy took out Durandal and held it at the ready. "Our job is just beat the leaving daylights out of these morons."
Equipping the weapons, they were given the Celestial Spirits got into ready stances along with their master.
"We ain't afraid of one Celestial Wizard and a couple of spirits, let kill 'em and destroy the town." One of the Dark Guild members yelled "CHARGE!"
The crowd at least a two hundred strong composed of men and women alike all charged as one believing that their job was an easy one. They would soon find out just how wrong they were.
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Oak Town is located in the northeast corner of Fiore and is home to one very large branch of the Phantom Lord guild.
"That's priceless." One wizard laughed.
"Those Fairy clowns got what they had comin' to 'em!" Another said.
"I heard Gajeel went and took out three of them himself!" the third chuckled.
"Ah we can't let him have all the fun."
"Yeah we need to try pickin' off a few fairy wings ourselves."
Before the bragging trio could exit the door they were about to leave throw was completely destroyed sending them flying. Standing in the midst of the wreckage was nearly every member of Fairy Tail.
"FAIRY TAIL HAS COME CALLING!" Master Makarov boomed.
"Alright, who wants to play with fire?!" Natsu shouted, barrelling through Phantom Lord members.
"Purple Net!" Macao said, "Now Wakaba!"
"On it," Wakaba said, "Here comes Smoke Crush!"
"Guns Magic!"
Alzack fired rapidly at the many Phantom Lord Wizards knocking them all out cold.
"That one's my spark shot," Alzack said, before returning his gun to its holster.
"Eat thi-"
"Very nice shootin' Bisca." Alzack thanked, looking up to the wizard in question who had sniped a Phantom Lord Wizard about to ambush him.
"Getting' a little rusty there, Al," she teased, before taking aim t more Phantom members. "Target locked on: Homing Shot!"
The homing shot single-handedly took out over twenty wizards with one. Master Makarov decided to join in growing to his giant state, crushing many more Phantom members beneath his hand.
"He's a monster!"
"When you dare to lay your hands on this monster's children! Are you foolish enough to believe human laws would protect you from my rage?"
"So powerful…"
"All the members are strong too!"
"Yeah, they're totally nuts!"
"I didn't know Fairy Tail was like this!"
"Pict Magic! Nature Run Wild!" Reedus exclaimed.
"Wood Make Magic: The Dam of Shy Love!" Laki yelled.
"What the heck is that supposed to mean lady?"
"Let's get the cat!"
"Piece of cake!"
"Oh yeah?" Happy said darkly as he was quickly surrounded, "Don't forget, I'm a wizard too! You got a problem with cats?"
"Of course not, Sir!"
"Jose show yourself!"
Erza used requip and changed into her Flame Empress Armor.
"Tell me! Where can I find Gajeel and the Element Four?" Erza asked angrily.
"How do you like this?"
Natsu smirked and inhaled all the flames shot his way.
"Oh yeah, now I've got a fire in my belly!"
"What the…"
"He just ate fire!"
"You don't think that he's one of those?!"
"I'm gonna blow you away, Roar of the Fire Dragon!"
"Ice Make: Lance!" shouted Gray.
"Wood Make Magic: Distance Between the Two is Forever!" Laki said.
"I still don't know what the heck you're talking about, lady."
"Guns Magic: Mud Shot!" Alzack yelled
"Requip! Magic Shotgun" Bisca called out requipping her magic shotgun "Wide Shot!"
Gray and Natsu were back to back, frost on Gray's hands and flames on Natsu's.
"You're not doin' too bad for a snowman," Natsu taunted the Ice Make wizard.
"I could say the same about you, ya pyro," Gray fired back.
"Got 'em right where we want 'em, don't we?" Wakaba grinned at Macao.
"You betcha." Macao grinned agreeing with Wakaba.
"Erza! I'll leave the rabble to you." Master Makarov as he headed up the stairs.
"Yes Sir!"
"Jose must be lurking on the top floor, when I find him they'll be hell to pay."
"Please, be careful," Erza whispered as she watched Makarov smash through a wall and go deeper in.
"Now that their little boss man's outta the way it's time I threw myself into the mix." Gajeel stated jumping down from the rafters to join the fight.
"Card Magic: Lightning, Reverse Tower, Lover!" Cana called. "Rain of Lightning!" Her attack shocked several more Phantom lord grunts.
"Come on, man up! Don't you wanna be like me?" Elfman yelled using his beast arm to send Phantom Wizards flying.
"Woah, that guys a brute!"
"What happened to his arm?"
"It's Take-Over Magic."
"Why would anyone let a monster take over their arm?"
"That's Elfman!"
"I've heard of him, he kills monsters then absorbs their power, they call him Beast Arm Elfman!"
The entire guild hall shook as Gajeel landed on the balcony, cracking the Phantom Lord sign as he did.
"Who's that?"
"It's gotta be…"
"It's the Iron Dragon Slayer," Erza growled, "Black Steel Gajeel."
"You attacked Levy and our guild!" shouted Naab.
Gajeel slammed his fist into the Naab, his arm lengthening as it turned to iron. He sent the wizard, knocking over anyone in his path friend or foe.
"What the- he just knocked out his own guild mates with that attack!" Gray exclaimed.
"Heh, heh, show me what you got, unless you scum are too scared to face the great Iron Dragon Slayer."
"Too scared?! Real men have no fear!" Elfman shouted while charging Gajeel.
"You're Elfman, right?" Gajeel asked catching Elfmans punch and attempting to counter attack.
Elfman quickly dodged all attacks, catching Gajeels right foot even as it became an Iron rod.
"Aah, not bad big guy."
"Well that's cause I'm a real man," Elfman retorted.
"Yeah? Then let's see how a real man handles this!"
Gajeel sent more iron rods from his leg and slammed them into his own men.
"They're Phantom! You attacked your own men?!"
"Cause I knew it'd distract you!" laughed Gajeel as his free fist slammed into Elfman and sending him backwards. Without even a second to react Natsu was in Gajeel's face, using Elfman as a spring board. He sent Gajeel flying backwards into their bar, making everyone gasp.
"Woh, that kid sent him flying!"
"Nobody's ever done that before!"
"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Fairy Tail's Dragon Slayer!" Natsu growled, "Elfman leave this guy to me."
"Come on," Elfman groaned, "First you use me as a spring board and now you wanna steal my man-to-man fight?"
"Iron Dragon Claw!" Natsu held on tightly to Gajeel's iron arm as he slid backwards eventuall coming to a halt as he dug his feet in to the ground.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted in worry.
"You destroyed our guild hall and you attacked Levy and her team. I'll make you pay!" Natsu growled as his hands began heating up before throwing the Iron Dragon Slayer into the rafters.
Gajeel flipped over in the air and leapt off a beam and back at Natsu. His fist was blocked and Natsu sent him flying again.
"Woah, the kids fired up now." Wakaba smirked.
"Yeah, I'd hate to be that other guy," Macao commented.
"He's quite a wizard," Erza smiled.
"Alright fine, you're manlier than I thought." Elfman conceded. "I'll let you have this one but you gotta promise me that you're gonna-"
"You bet, I'll beat him to a pulp!" Natsu vowed with a smirk.
"Nice try, but I'm still standin'," Gajeel said as he rose from the rubble.
"True, but you won't be for much longer though," taunted Natsu.
"Oh yeah?" Gajeel asked.
"Bet that hurt," Gray commented as Gajeel sent Nasu flying.
"Aaw, what's the matter? You can dish it out but you can't take it?"
Flames encompassed Natsu as he jumped to his feet, grinning.
"It's gonna take a lot more than that to keep me down."
"You seriously think you can beat me, pyro?"
Magic seals appeared upon the hands of both Dragon Slayers.
"What do ya mean think? I know I can."
"We'll see about that!"
Natsu block Gajeel's Iron rod like arm with a single hand.
"Your steel beams can't even touch me, you better start steppin' up your game!" Natsu growled, still covered in flames.
"The rumours are true, you're way more powerful then you look. That actually burns a little," Gajeel taunted, his arm returning to normal,
"I'm just gettin' warmed up. Cause you ain't seen nothin' yet!" They stared one another down before lunging forward, creating craters in the floor from the force of their attacks. They began exchanging blows, however even as Gajeel was able to block Natsu's attacks one got through forcing him to dodge. But Natsu didn't relent and punching Gajeel in the head sending him smashing through several more rafters before he was able to correct himself and hang upside down from a beam.
"How do you like that, punk?"
"Don't get cocky, it won't happen again," Gajeel replied still feeling confident.
Again Gajeel looked Natsu up and down just before the entire guild began to shake.
"Everything's shaking," Wakaba noticed.
"Looks like they're going at it," Macao commented.
"I don't like the sound of that," Gray added.
"This is what happens when Master Makarov's angry," Cana chuckled.
"It's called the Giants Wrath, nobody can stop him now," Naab stated.
"When he gets angry, the Master's even manlier," Elfman commented.
"Prepare to fight," Erza ordered, brandishing her sword, "We cannot lose as long as long as Master Makarov's still with us!"
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
In a particular room high up in the Phantom Lord Guild hall a wall completely disintegrated before Makarov's immense magical power.
"Jose!"
"Look what the cat dragged in…" Jose commented sitting in a throne.
"Why are you attacking Fairy Tail? Tell me!"
The glass in the windows shattered as Master Makarov began exerting his magic power even more. The power was so strong the ground itself began to crack beneath him as he approached Jose.
"I haven't seen you in quite a while Makarov, six years ago at a Guild Masters Conference. I remember that day, I was a complete mess. I can't hold my liquor as well as the rest of you."
"I didn't come here for small talk, I want answers Jose!" Master Makarov yelled as he slammed his gigantic fist into Jose.
"A projection? You coward, I should've known you'd flee with your tail between your legs." Makarov commented as he realised that Jose was simply projecting himself
"It's not cowardice, I'm simply trying to avoid a fight between two of the Wizard Saints. In avoidance of that mess, I prefer a victory without all of the commotion," Jose replied calmly.
"Why are you hiding? Come out and face me like a man!"
Master Jose chuckled darkly, his gaze lowering to the floor before himself. Slowly a second projection appeared, one of a young blonde unconscious female.
"L-Lucy? But how?"
"I can understand your confusion as to how, I accomplished this feat." Jose stated "These reincarnated Heroes are notoriously hard to subdue; I have one such individual in my own guild she has her own Noble Phantasm and its power is extraordinary. Even Gajeel couldn't beat her. But luckily for me your Lucy has a special weakness put in place by her own mother. Which I have the key to." Jose let out a smirk and held a beautifully made ornate music box in his hand.
"Where did you get that?!" Makarov demanded.
"From my client. You see as you may or may not be aware Lucy's mother worried that she might do something she'd regret and so perform a special magic surgery on her." Jose explained "She had a special rune put onto the part of Lucy's brain that deals with sound set to trigger at a specific tune. So now whenever Lucy hears this Music Box playing the runes activate and she falls to sleep instantly, this also has the convenient side effect of rendering her defenceless."
With that proclamation Jose gathered a darkness spell in his hand and held it above Lucy
"No don't!" Makarov yelled panicking upon seeing one of his children in danger.
He whipped around as wind suddenly began stirring.
'Where'd he come from?' Master Makarov wondered as a tall weeping man appeared behind him. 'I couldn't even sense his presence!'
"It's so sad, so sad!" exclaimed the weeping man who was lurking behind Master Makarov. "It's heart-breaking! Why am I suddenly feeling so melancholy?"
There was a flash of magical power and Makarov fell, crashing to the ground floor amongst the members of Fairy Tail still fighting on the ground floor.
"It must be because the world has just lost a great wizard."
'What happened to me? I feel weak,' Makarov wondered in his thoughts, a feeling of powerlessness covering his whole body. 'My magic, it's gone!'
"What the…" Elfman wondered.
"Something fell from the rafters!"
"It's Gramps!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Is he okay?!" Gray asked.
"Master!" Erza shouted.
"Such sorrow…"
"Makarov is powerless now thanks to Aria of the Heavens, a member of my Element Four." Jose explained with a grin. "He has the ability to make others wizards power just disappear into thin air."
Everyone watched as Master Jose came down the steps into the guild hall. Before him floated the hologram of Lucy.
"I think it's safe to say we've won this round, Fairy Tail."
"M-my power is; m-my m-magic is…" Makarov was too weak even get the words of his situation out.
"Master." Erza called to Makarov
"What happened to him?" Cana asked, kneeling down beside Makarov.
"I don't know, but I don't sense any magic energy comin' from him at all," Gray answered.
"Gray are you saying he's just an ordinary old man now?" Elfman asked.
"No, that can't be!" Happy cried.
"Come on Gramps, you can pull through this!" Natsu pushed.
"Guess the funs over and just when things were starting to get good." Gajeel grumbled.
"I don't understand, Gramps is so powerful, how'd they beat him?" Gray wondered.
"Only way to find out is to go up there." Elfman stated looking up at the floors above.
"The Masters been defeated!"
"For real?"
"What? He's out?"
"You guys, we can beat them."
"They're not half as strong without their Master."
"And we've got Gajeel and the Element Four on our side."
'This is bad,' thought Erza.
"NOW'S OUR CHANCE! LET'S GET 'EM!"
"Don't you start getting cocky!" Natsu shouted, punching away the charging Phantom wizards with a flaming fist.
"Ah crap, what now," Gray growled.
"Oh no!" Cana exclaimed as three Phantom members sent combination attack of wind, fire and earth magc at her.
"CANA!" Wakaba shouted in warning.
"Here just in time, you're lucky," Macao coughed as he used his body to block the attack coming at Cana.
"You shouldn't push yourself so hard, you're too old for this," Cana said with worry.
"I'm not old!" Macao argued still ready to fight despite his injuries.
Erza looked around at her comrades as they slowly began to lose their edge, falling one by one.
"We must retreat! Everyone back to the guild at once!"
"What? No way!" Gray argued.
"Real men don't retreat!" Elfman agreed.
"I still got some fight in me," Macao growled with determination.
"Me too!" Cana added.
"We can't stay; we don't stand a chance against Jose. Now retreat, that's an order!" Erza yelled.
"There they go, I knew it wouldn't be long before those gutless cowards gave up and started running for their lives," Gajeel sighed with disappointment.
"They're retreating with sorrow in their hearts."
"Aria, nice to see you're just as creepy as ever," Gajeel greeted the member of the Element Four, "I gotta commend you on talking down that Fairy Tail geezer."
"I just followed Master Jose's orders, but thank you!" Aria said, bursting into tears again.
"Why're you always crying? Jeez, cut it out," Gajeel said, his eyes on Natsu, "So what happened with that Lucy girl?"
Hearing Lucy's name Natsu looked up and listening in on Aria and Gajeel.
"Minerva is dealing with her as we speak." Aria replied stopping his weeping. "With luck she should be captured soon."
"Minerva huh?" Gajeel winced "I may hate the Fairies but I wouldn't wish that kid on anyone. She's a vicious little runt."
"Damn it." Natsu growled upon hearing this.
"Is something wrong?" Happy asked.
"GAJEEL!"
"Hmm? We'll finish this someday, Salamander."
Both Gajeel and Aria disappeared from sight and were gone.
"Those assholes… they're trying to get Lucy!"
"Everybody out, let's go!" Erza ordered as the Fairy Tail members began retreating the Phantom wizards giving chase.
"Erza, they're after Lucy!" Natsu yelled at Titania.
"We'll have to warn her once we get back to the Guild." Erza stated "Even if we can't warn her in time she'll be fine. Trust me, Lucy won't go down easily."
"Grrr…I'll kick your ass next time Gajeel!" Natsu yelled before reluctantly retreating with the rest of the Guild.
[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]-[-]
"Well that was easier than I thought." Lucy said dusting off her hands. "Thanks for your help Taurus and Virgo." She thanked the two Celestial Spirits as she returned the weapons she lent them to the Gate of Babylon.
"No problem Ms Luuuuucy." Taurus replied.
"Anytime princess." Virgo said bowing as she and Taurus returned to the Celestial Spirit World.
"Now then…" Lucy looked around at the idiots who were all sprawled out across the field they'd decided to charge through. "I guess I should tie these morons up and shove them in that deep hole I had Virgo dig. That should hold them until the Magic Council can arrest them, then I'll be going back home. Hopefully Natsu hasn't done anything stupid while I've been gone."
"I'm afraid the only place you'll be going is with me." A young voice exclaimed.
Lucy turned around to see a girl about thirteen or so years old with pink hair, dragon horns and tail, a lance that seemed to double as a microphone in her hand.
"And just how do you think you're going to accomplish that shorty?" Lucy teased the girl who puffed out her cheeks in irritation.
"Don't underestimate me, I'm Minerva Orland." She twirled her lance in her hand and pointed it at Lucy "But with my Noble Phantasm no mere wizard has ever beaten me."
"Ah, so you are another heroic spirit who was reincarnated yes?"
"That's right." Minerva confirmed "Oh, I wish I could have you, your blood would keep me young and beautiful for years, but Master Jose wants you instead."
"This should be good for a laugh." Lucy smirked.
"Here I come!" Minerva yelled charging at Lucy.