A/N: Okay I'm starting with the author's note to say I'm sorry I didn't update last time, I have been absolutely crazy busy, so forgive me for that and please enjoy this quality update, detailing Fairy Tail's struggles with Phantom Lord.
Previously on…
"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!
We marched through the center of Oak Town, home to one of Phantom's largest branches. Lucy had remained with Mirajane to watch over the guild and the town. The rest of the guild had assembled and now we marched on Phantom.
"Natsu!" Makarov barked as we approached the door to the branch.
"With pleasure." Natsu growled as he slammed a fist covered in fire into the door, splintering it apart.
"Fairy Tail has come calling!" Makarov called out as we let out a battle cry and rushed into the guild.
"Let's get them!" Gray let out a cry as we ran to do battle.
"Hey boys! Here's a kiss!" I blew my icy breath, covering several phantom wizards in ice.
I paused in my fighting to watch Master grow with his Titan magic and the Phantom wizards cower before him.
I turned my arms to ice and joined Erza in smashing apart the hordes.
"Tell me! Where can I find Gajeel and the Element 4?!" Erza roared. No one responded, so we continued to pummel these wizards whose guild had declared war on ours.
"Natsu! Aquila!" Erza yelled, directing our gazes to two elemental wizards, who most unfortunately used fire and ice magic. They fired at us and Laki was forced to dive out of the way. Natsu stepped in front and swallowed the flames whole.
"Now I've got a fire in my belly!" He grinned, as the ice wizard stepped forward.
"Take this!" He yelled sending a column of ice towards Natsu. I stepped in front and opened my mouth, converting the column to magic in my mouth. I sighed a she stumbled backwards, bewildered that Natsu and I could eat their attacks.
"I'm going to blow you away!" Natsu roared, as he formed the magic circle to use his dragon's roar.
"I'm with you, Natsu!" I yelled, doing the same.
"Fire Dragon…"
"Ice Dragon…"
"ROAR!" We roared in unison and set our converging spirals straight into the crows, freezing then frying our enemies. I grinned at Natsu, then jumped back into the fray, turning my ice coated fists into long blades, an idea I had gotten from Erza.
I ended up back to back with Erza, Cana, Loke, Macao, and Wakaba.
"We've got them right where we want them!" Macao declared.
An explosion sounded from the staircase, and Master called out to us.
"Erza! Aquila! I leave the rabble to you." He commanded.
"Yes sir!" Erza and I responded as Master ascended to the top floor.
As we continued to fight, a cackle could be heard above the din. We turned as we heard it, and watched in shock as Black Steel Gajeel jumped from the rafters and landed, taking out some of Phantom's own wizards. He cackled once again as he destroyed his own teammates.
"Show me what you got, unless you're too scared to face the great Iron Dragon Slayer?" Gajeel taunted us. Elfman leaped at him, and held his own for about a minute, before Gajeel punched him. I moved to attack him, but Natsu beat me to it.
His flaming fist sent Gajeel hurtling back into Phantom's bar.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm one of Fairy Tail's Dragon slayers." Natsu said, his flaming fists held in a defensive position. "Elfman, leave this guy to me." As Elfman protested, Gajeel sent a club flying at Natsu, who caught it, and sent Gajeel flying back. "You destroyed our guild, you hurt Levy and her team. I'll make you PAY!"
Gajeel rebounded but was once again clobbered by Natsu. I leapt up and began to race for Natsu, who saw me approaching and threw out a hand. "No. He's mine, Aquila!"
I hesitated, then nodded, and returned to Erza's side in time to slam my icy foot into a guy's nose as he snuck up on her.
"Always watch your back, unless I'm here to watch it for you." I chided Erza as we stood back to back. Cana joined us within a moment as we faced the swarm coming at us.
"Cana, what do you think are our odds are?" I smirked as they approached.
"I don't know, I'd have to go with all or nothing!" Cana yelled as she activated her lightning card, electrocuting the first wave of attackers.
"Ice dragon's Icicle tempest!" I yelled sending out an array of icicles, pinning several Phantoms down.
As the building began to shake, I smirked. The giant's wrath had come at last.
"Prepare to fight! With master Makarov at our side, we cannot lose!" Erza called out and we rallied, and began to fell more of Phantom's members.
I switched from my hands-turned-blades back into fists and began to punch my way through the members, when a loud crash came from above, and something landed hard.
I felt the blood drain out of my face as the smoke cleared and Master was revealed. He was a shade of green and seemed fragile and weak.
"Master!" Erza cried out. I ran over to him and knelt down, and shifted Master into my arms.
"What happened to him?!" Cana knelt beside us, Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Happy joining within moments.
"I don't know, but I don't sense any magic energy." Gray stated with a worried expression. The guild began to murmur, and gather around us. I passed Makarov to Elfman, and stood when I heard the murmurs coming from Phantom. Master's defeat was a rallying point and with a cry, Phantom charged on us.
Three wizards let out an attack and it hurtled towards… CANA!
"CANA!" I screamed as I charged towards her, hurtling through the crowd. I felt like the blood had left my body when I heard the explosion and her scream. I let out a gasp once the smoke had cleared, revealing how Macao had placed himself in front of her, shielding her from the attack. I didn't have time to help them though, they were closing in on me. I hardened my back to ice as I felt a sword from one of its members shatter as it hit my ice. I turned and knocked him out with a punch, but more were coming.
As I fended off more members, and had to watch my back while doing it, I heard Erza call for the retreat. "No way! Erza, we can't give in to them!" I cried out, jumping up to avoid an attack and sending icicles into the crowd. Others called out their resolve and Erza shot them down.
"We can't stay, we don't stand a chance against Jose! Now retreat, that's an order!" Erza commanded. "Everybody out!"
As the other members began to flee, I stayed sending out waves of ice, to help provide cover for us, ensuring no one was left behind.
"I'm not going back yet! I won't leave until I get revenge!" Gray yelled, determination with an edge of desperation coating his voice. I ran up to Gray and grabbed his arm, forcing him to look me in the eye.
"You wouldn't let me throw away my life trying to defeat them by myself. I refuse to let you do the same." I held his gaze, as emotions war in his eyes. Then, I saw the figure behind him fire a magic bullet and I threw Gray out of the way. I let out a cry as the bullet pierced my left shoulder. I fell to my knees and cupped my hand over my shoulder, hissing as my fingers came away bloody.
"AQUILA!" Gray yelled as a wave of ice swept the mage away. He ran over and scooped me up in his arms, carrying me like a princess. "You idiot! Why did you do that?!" He cried out, his eyes full of anger and rage. I let out a forced grin.
"Because you would've done the same for me."
"You moron!" He yelled, but his hands betrayed how he really felt, they cradled me like I was something precious, and he took care not to jostle my arm. I blushed, and I looked down as Gray fled with everyone else, leaving the Phantom guild in the distance.
"Typical, you'll do anything to get your way, even get shot. Idiot." Gray muttered as we ran and I aimed a weak smile at him.
"You know I always get what I want, Gray." I grinned and he rolled his eyes. "Also Gray?"
"Yeah?" He said, taking his eyes off where he was going to look at me for a moment.
"Don't freak out." I said as I passed out.
A/N: Well, I hope that was worth the wait! Again sorry for missing last week's update but alas sometimes life calls! Look forward to the next chapter that will be published next MONDAY. Until then, Au revoir!