I strode into to town, laughing at Gray's grumpy expression. He groaned as Natsu launched into another round of praise for the "awesome job", we had just completed. In reality it had been a simple extermination mission, which could've easily been accomplished by any member from the guild alone. Natsu, however, insisted that as a team, we must all complete missions together, a sentiment echoed fully by Erza.
I burst into another round of laughter as Natsu and Gray began to bicker once more.
"That's enough, boys!" Erza declared as she stepped in between the two. "Now please get dressed." she directed her next statement who looked down at himself in wide-eyed horror.
"For crying out loud, why is this always happening to me?!" He exclaimed, as he began to pick up his discarded clothes once more and get dressed. I covered Stella's eyes as she asked if Gray was being a pervert again, which made me laugh so hard I fell down on the pavement and started rolling around.
"I hate to interrupt, but when I took this mission, I was intending it to be more of a solo mission so, why'd y'all have to come along?" Lucy asked, a sliver of exasperation leaking into her voice. I leveled my stare at Natsu, as did Erza and Gray.
"Aw, come on. Isn't it obvious?" Natsu stated, causing Lucy to stare at him in skepticism. "We're Fairy Tail's strongest team, so we've got to stick together!"
"At least that's the argument he gave when he persuaded me to abandon my break and my plans to go drinking with Cana for this." Erza jabbed me in the elbow for my comment and I let out a wheeze. Damn, she got a lot stronger from when she was 11 and I used to separate her and Mira with one hand behind my back.
"Yeah we are!" Lucy smiled and clutched Plue close.
"No job is too tough. Not for me, Erza, Aquila, and Droopy drawers over here!" Natsu proclaimed.
"We are a capable bunch." Erza stated with a nod.
"You forgot about me!" Lucy yelled at us. I giggled at her pouting expression as Natsu tried to reassure she was part of the team. She hadn't figured out that we were just teasing her.
"Aquila, why is everyone staring at us?" Stella whispered, tugging on my hair to draw my attention to the townspeople who were just staring at us and whispering.
"That's what I'd like to know." Gray asked as we continued along.
"It almost feels like… pity. But why-" Erza cut herself off as we saw the bizarre formation. It looked like the guild had grown spikes in our absence, what the hell was going on?!
"Why did does the guild look so bizarre?!" Erza stated as we all froze for a moment. Then without ever speaking we all ran for the guild, wondering what had happened to our beloved guild hall.
As we turned the corner, we came to a halt and could only stare at the guildhall in horror.
"No way…" Gray murmured.
"What's happened to it?" Erza said in horror.
"I don't understand…" Lucy whispered.
"Who the hell did this?!" I yelled. The guild was struck through with several iron poles, each as thick as pine trees.
"Our guild." Natsu's shoulders were shaking with rage, "Someone did this to our guild!"
"But who would do such a thing?" Erza said aloud. No one had the answer so I took a deep whiff of the air, trying to catch a scent. The metal was so close though, the heavy metallic scent covered everything. I could barely smell Stella and she was on top of my head.
"It was Phantom." a voice called from behind us. We all turned to see Mirajane standing there.
"Are you sure?" I asked, Phantom was full of idiots but surely they weren't dumb enough to attack us in broad daylight like this.
"Yes. We couldn't do anything to stop them. They got us good." Mirajane whispered, her voice full of pain and anguish. She led us to the cellar doors of the hall, revealing that the basement and library were undamaged, allowing the guild to still function.
Mira led us to Master, who was sitting on a barrel, drunk as a skunk, and still drinking.
"Yo! What's up kids?!" Master slurred.
"Sorry we weren't here sooner." Erza apologized and I nodded.
"Why the heck are you all just sitting around down here?!" Natsu yelled at Master, who ignored him in favor of asking Lucy how the job had gone.
"Master, Natsu's right, why are we down here?! Is there no counterattack being planned?!" I demanded to know.
"The guild hall has been completely destroyed!" Natsu exclaimed, the pain and rage in his voice evident.
"Now now, there's no need to get yourselves all worked up. It's not the end of the world or anything." Master drawled before taking another draft of his tankard. "Just goes to show you how cowardly those dunderheads in the Phantom Lord guild really are. They attacked when no one was here, is that anything worth bragging about?"
"Nobody was here?" Erza asked, her eyes darting to Mirajane for confirmation.
"It was after everyone had already left for the night." Mira responded, her voice still quiet and dull.
"I suppose that's good, that no one was hurt in the attack." Erza stated, her voice dulling as well.
"We shouldn't trouble ourselves worrying about people who don't even have the courage to face us head on. Forget about those fools!" Master stated, taking another draft. But from his heavy drinking, I wagered that he was just as upset as we were, but was merely trying to hold it together for us.
Natsu's fist hit the wooden crate next to him, sending splinters everywhere. "Ain't going to happen Gramps! We can't just let them trash our place and get away with it!" Natsu yelled his face red with anger.
Master ignored Natsu outburst and left. Natsu started to grumble about his attitude when Mira interrupted him. "Listen, this is just as hard on him as it is on you. He's mad, but conflict between the guilds is strictly forbidden by the council."
"It's not fair! Those phantom creeps started it!" Natsu roared.
"I know but that doesn't matter." Mira whispered.
"If the Master's decision is not to retaliate… then we must respect it." Erza whispered quietly.
I growled under my breath. There was no way we could sit there, and just let this insult pass by. Lucy left after a moment, saying she needed to return to her apartment.
"We all decided we should pair up, so no one is alone in case anything happens." Mira said as we watched Lucy leave.
"I'll go with her.", Natsu and Gray said at the same time, then glared at each other.
"Who said you could protect anyone droopy drawers?!" Natsu glared as he got in Gray's face.
"I can do anything better than you, ash for brains!" Gray yelled back.
"Enough." Erza said, separating them with a flick of her gauntlets. "We will all go to Lucy's together." She began to drag the boys towards the door, pausing when she realized I wasn't with them. "Aquila, are you not coming?"
"I'll be there shortly, Erza. Stella, go on and go with them." I nudged her in Erza's direction and Stella waved back at me then flew to catch up with Happy. I waved in response, a smile covering my face, before fading once they disappeared.
I surreptitiously checked before slipping into the archives. I made for the maps section, and found an atlas, one that had all current guilds on it. I tore it out of the book, and put it in my pocket. I slipped the book back into place and then slinked back into the basement. Pasting on a cheerful smile, I waved goodbye to Mira.
I exited the guild hall and then made for my house. I grabbed my spare pack that I always kept back in case I had back to back missions. Then I turned to strike out for Phantom lord. I halted when I say who stood in my doorway.
"Gray.", I let out a growl as he stepped inside his expression cold.
"What good exactly, do you think you will do if you attack them head-on? And by yourself no less. Face it, you'd be killed, then we really would be in some deep shit!" Gray snarled at me and I roared back, punching a wall, causing cracks to form in the wood.
"Then what do I do, Gray?!" I questioned him furiously, throwing my anger at him. "Let them walk all over us, damage our reputation?! I refuse to let that happen, and if I must counterattack on my own then I will!" I moved to leave through the door but Gray seized my arm.
The temperature in the room dropped and I said in an icy voice, "Drop my arm, if you want to be a walking, talking person."
"I won't, Aquila! This is the stupidest plan I've ever heard! I won't let you do this!" Gray yelled, his face in front of mine. I glared at him and started channeling my ice towards his hand, freezing it over.
"You don't dictate what I do, Gray! And you sure as hell don't get to order me around." I glared, staring him directly in the eyes. I had been any closer, we would have been kissing. I shoved that thought down and wrenched my arm away from him. He let out a muffled curse as I swept down into sidekick that knocked him flat on his back.
"Don't try to stop me Gray, you won't succ-", I stopped talking and took a deep whiff of the air. Something was wrong. That metallic scent was moving, and it wasn't anywhere near the guild. I cocked my head and listened.
"What the hell is going on, Aquila?! Why are you- Mmph!" I covered Gray's mouth and let out a hiss. I could hear it, a scream, it sounded like… all the blood drained from my face. It sounded like Levy.
"Come on, Levy's is in trouble!" I yelled, grabbing Gray and hauling him to his feet. Then I took off in the direction of the sounds of her screams.
"What are you talking 'bout?" Gray yelled as I ran pell-mell for the center of Magnolia. "I didn't hear anything!"
"Never doubt a dragon slayer's nose or their ears! Levy is in trouble, we have to help her!" I yelled as we ran down the street, the sun beginning to peek over the sunrise. I hadn't realized how late it had been when I had left the guild.
I heard a cackle coming from the park and a yell, most likely coming from Jet or Droy. I slammed into a corner, as I made to turn in the direction of the park. I grimaced but kept running. Gray was behind me, I had left him at the entrance of town, running too fast for him to keep up.
"Gihi, I guess we are going to be interrupted soon. Consider this a parting gift." I heard a voice that grated like metal cackle. I swept into the park like a blizzard to find an iron-covered figure punch a metal rod into the giant oak that was in the center of the park. The tree held three figures upon it and I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.
"Oh if it isn't the Icy Damsel. How nice of you to join the party." the figure, Black Steel Gajeel of Phantom Lord, cackled. "Your friends were just dying to see you."
I covered my mouth at the sight that beheld me. Levy, Jet, and Droy, were crucified on the tree, the Phantom guild mark painted on Levy's stomach.
"BASTARD!" I screamed, and launched myself at his laughing figure, my fists coating themselves with ice. He leapt up into the tree, cackling.
"Sorry Damsel, my orders aren't to fight with the big fish. Best of luck to you, getting my nails out of your friends.", He cackled once more before clutching a lacrima to his guild mark, and vanished into thin air.
I let out a scream of rage and slammed my fists into the ground. The bastard, that bastard! He wouldn't get away with this, I wouldn't let him!
"Aquila, what the… hell." Gray ran into the park and came to a stop beside me, his eyes widening in shock at our guild mates treatment.
"Get the master, NOW!" I yelled as I struggled to contain my fury. With a dazed nod, he turned and ran for the guild hall. I stood and gently touched the tree, allowing my ice to creep up its edges and coat the metal rods holding Team Shadowgear. I froze the edges of my feet into hard blades and climbed the tree, heading to Droy first. With a punch, I shattered the restraints on Droy and caught his unconscious body, before I realized that I had an audience.
I heard Lucy's gasp of shock and horror, and Natsu's rage filled voice. Then I heard quiet come over the crowd as footsteps approaching could be heard. It was Gray and the master. Gray headed for the tree, where I carefully lowered Droy down to him. I continued to free Jet and Levy while listening to Master's words.
"I can take the guild hall being reduced to rubble. But I will not let harm come to my children without taking revenge!" Master's staff snapped in his hands, and magical, golden power began to emanate from him. "We shall go to war!"
I finished lowering Levy to Gray, and they were rushed to the hospital for treatment. "Aquila!" master barked his eyes fixed on the team being rushed away.
"Yes Master?" I responded, my eyes fixed on his.
"Summon the guild, we move at noon, we move against Phantom." Master said, his eyes cold.
"With pleasure." stated grimly as I ran off to find the various members scattered throughout town. At noon, Fairy Tail went to war!
A/N: Alright another chapter done, and tensions are running HOT! Next update will be Sunday, back to the normal schedule, thanks for being patient with this slightly late update, I was out of town until yesterday night! So forgive its lateness, and don't forget to review!