Titania and The Hunter

by Master Attlon

Born as a human. Treated as a demon. Gathered as a slave. Viewed as a leader. Traveled as a Mage. Grew as a Legend. The journey and life of The Hunter, Naruto Uzumaki

32. Let War Rage On

Titania and The Hunter

Chapter 32: Let War Rage On

Someone else drew a picture of my Naruto and put it up on deviantART. I have the picture set up on my profile page so go check it out when you can. The artist is MichaelH2544 and he wrote a story of his own called Naruto: The Lighting Crystal of Konoha. Go check it out.

Thanks man for the picture and the effort.

And thanks to all of you for helping me past 1500 reviews! Halfway to 3000!

...

Woah, set myself up high there for a second. Let's at least try to get 2000 first and then see where that goes.

########Hunter########

"Ughhhh...what...what in the world happened?"

Totomaru, a young man with his hair in two different colors of black and white tied in a top knot, groaned as he pulled himself up on his hands and knees. He was dressed in an orange-red gi with a sword strapped to his side.

He was Totamaru of the Conflagration, member of the Elemental Four.

The Fire Mage shook his head and coughed as he saw smoke and dust fill everything in his vision. He stood back up and swiped the smoke out of his way before he saw the state of the weapon he was ordered to check.

The Jupiter Cannon was cracked and partially shattered after the blow-back had destroyed part of the barrel and flew back into the main chamber. Now their most destructive weapon was reduced to an ineffective pile of junk and they had no way of attacking Fairy Tail on a large scale now.

Wait...

Y-yes! Yes they did! Now that the Jupiter weapon was no longer operational, Master Jose would most likely rely on that to finish off the Fairies. If so, then it was Totomaru's top priority not to be taken out of this fight. Totomaru smirked and lifted himself up, ready to face anyone that-

He was immediately met with the fierce scowl of a pink-haired man that appeared inside their mobile guild. Totomaru was stunned and couldn't react properly, "Wha-"

Natsu didn't give him a moment to speak before he grabbed the Phantom Mage's head and slammed it into the ground hard enough to splinter to the rock.

Totomaru gasped in pain and lifted himself out of the cracks before he saw a black-haired man with no shirt dash in front of him. He slammed his fist down on his palm before encasing the Phantom Mage in a block of ice, "Ice Make: Freeze!"

Totomaru was frozen mid-scream and the two Mages stepped aside as Elfman came charging in. His arm glowed and changed into a stone design before he punched the Magecicle and sent it flying through the huge room, "AHHHH!"

The frozen Mage spun through the air before slamming into the stone wall and breaking the ice around him. His eyes rolled into the white and he groaned painfully before his head hung unconsciously. The three men stood in the weapon's room before Gray questioned, "Who was that anyway?"

"A Phantom asshole, that's all that matters!" Natsu answered while looking around at the armory room they had infiltrated through the broken barrel. The machinery and giant Lacrima were all destroyed and it was a safe bet that it wasn't going to be used again any time soon.

"We got lucky." Natsu and Elfman looked over at Gray as he kicked a broken portion of the black Lacrima that rested by his foot. He looked over at them, "If Naruto didn't counter that blast then things would have ended a lot worse than they already are."

Elfman hummed and crossed his arms over each other, "Naruto's manly sacrifice saved everyone in the guild and probably some of the town from getting critically injured."

"And now he's too hurt to even fight anymore!" Natsu grumbled angrily while flaring his sharp teeth and letting his shoulders shake with rage. He was seething, "He didn't have to do that."

"If he didn't then we would have been caught in the blast. And Erza was about to block the shot before he did so she would have been just as injured as him." Happy said as he flew up besides Natsu and tried to ease his mind, "He did what he thought was best."

Natsu gritted his teeth, "But he didn't have to get hurt for the rest of us."

Happy looked at his friend in concern, "Natsu-"

"He'll make it." They looked towards Gray as the black-haired Mage narrowed his eyes, "He always has. But Naruto protected the guild and he can't fight anymore, so we have to pick up the slack while he's resting." Gray cracked his knuckles and furrowed his eyes, "We have to make sure there is still a guild to come home to when this is all over."

"What's the plan?" Happy asked the three men that stood around each other with contemplative looks on their faces.

Natsu slammed his fists together, "I still need to tear into the Black Steel bastard for fucking up the guild and attack Levy and the others! And I wanna beat up that Jose guy too!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, moron." Gray immediately objected to Natsu's desire before shaking his head, "It's one thing trying to fight a psycho like Black Steel but Jose is one of the Wizard Saints. He's at the same level as Jii-San-"

"There's no way that prick is as strong as Jii-chan!" Natsu yelled back in protest.

"Maybe not, but even a man like me can admit that he would be too strong an opponent to fight by yourself." Elfman said, agreeing with Gray's warning, "If we are forced to face a man like that then it would be best for us to face him as a team. But we need to figure out what we can do to win the fight from in here."

"Jupiter's broken but Phantom can still do a shit load of damage with a giant walking guild under their thumb." Gray said while looking around towards the multiple entryways around them. He jerked his head towards the hallways, "We need to cripple this thing so it can't do anymore harm. If it has legs like this and can move over the whole lake so easily then there has to be a machine or spell cast that is holding it up. If we break that then it'll start crumbling."

Natsu scrunched up his face and thought for a minute before he chuckled, "That's easy."

Gray smirked, "Good. Elfman, you and I will head down the sides and try to break the legs holding this thing up. Natsu, you and Happy try to find the center of this thing and-"

"SMASH THE SHIT OUT OF IT!" Natsu answered energetically, "AND I'LL BEAT THE IRON DARGON BASTARD IN THE PROCESS!"

"Well that's pretty much what I was gonna say. We'll topple this bitch and head back out to help the others when we're done."

"All right!" Elfman pumped his arms and roared, "I'll smash down this entire guild!"

"It's what we do best!"

"Aye sir!"

The four Fairies all cheered and started cha ringing towards different archways, Natsu and Happy taking one together as Gray and Elfman headed in different directions.

########Hunter########

"HA!"

Erza yelled as she brought the black sword down and slashed through a group of black specters that had gathered to attack her. She slashed through their bodies and reduced them to shreds but knew that it was all for naught.

This was the fifth time she had sliced through a group of these ghosts and they just kept making more and coming back as strong as ever. This was Shade magic. These were all just simple apparitions made from Darkness magic that were controlled by a much more powerful Mage, probably Jose considering the sheer volume of these monsters. They had basic magical abilities and would not be too much of a hassle if their numbers were smaller but Jose was strong enough to send a swarm out on command and if they touched you then they temporarily paralyzed you.

It was a terrible situation for Fairy Tail to find themselves in. Caught in an ambush while they were still mending their wounds against a hulking monstrosity that could still be used to attack them and with an army of ghosts to wear them down.

But that didn't matter to her.

Erza wasn't deterred. In fact, at the moment, she could have done the fighting for everyone in Fairy Tail all by herself if she needed to.

Because she was angry. Furious would probably be a more appropriate word. Her guild was destroyed. Her friends were beaten. A precious member of her guild was being targeted by these people. Her master was struggling to regain his power after they had taken it from him. And the person she cherished and loved most in this world had nearly died saving them from a devastating blast that would have killed them.

Erza gritted her teeth and swiveled the black sword in her hand before she spotted another group of Shades descending towards Cana and the others. The dashed forward and threw the blade as accurately as possible as it cleaved through a group of three of the creatures. Her entire body glowed and she changed into her Heaven's Wheel Armor before gliding forward and slicing up the last of them with her swarm of blades. She glowed again and changed back into her basic armor while summoning another sword in one hand and grabbing Kokuryū out of the air with her other.

Cana sent her a grateful nod, "Nice job."

Erza nodded but didn't respond back to her. She was just focused on the task at hand. Phantom Lord has tried to take everything she had in the world over the last 24 hours...and now she wanted to do everything she could to bring it tumbling down. Which meant that she had to wait for Natsu and the others to finish raising hell inside the mobile guild. And when they were done...she was going to finish this fight once and for all.

Lucy watched in horror as the shore behind their guild had been turned into a battlefield, riddled with explosions and screaming as her guild mates fought tooth-and-nail against the summoned creatures. She struggled to find her voice as she shook in fright and wanted to plea to her friends to run away from this fight.

"Lucy! Duck!"

Lisanna grabbed the Celestial Spirit Mage's shoulders and pushed her down as she changed her feet into talons and attacked a Shade that was coming at them. She landed back on the ground and grabbed Lucy's arm before leading them through the large hole in their guild, "C'mon, we have to hide back here!"

Lucy stumbled before she picked herself back up and followed Lisaana back into their building and a safe distance away from the fighting. Lisanna lead them to the side of the guild where they stopped and stayed besides their other fallen comrade.

Lucy looked down and covered her mouth in shock as she got a better view of Naruto's fallen form after blocking Jupiter's blast. His whole body was covered in injuries and blood, with his eyes shadowed by his hair and his chest barely rising when he took a breath in. Her eyes started to water and she shook her head, "I didn't want it to come this. Everyone..."

"Lucy, don't space out yet. Don't worry okay." Lisanna reassured her as she grabbed her shoulder and looked into the girl's brown eyes, "We're gonna beat these guys. Natsu and the others went in there to destroy the guild the best they can. Believe in them, okay? They'll end this. And we will all make it out okay."

Lucy sniffed and rubbed the tears forming in her eyes before she nodded at the youngest Strauss sibling, "Yeah, okay. I-I'll believe in them."

Mira came running in trough the guild towards her friend and sister, "Lucy! Lisanna!"

"Mira-San!"

"Mira-Nee!"

Mirajane stopped by their side and kneeled down as she glanced down at Naruto's defeated form swallowed her indecision. She reached out and grabbed Lucy's hand, "Lucy, you have to follow me. This is urgent."

Lucy blinked in confusion, "W-what? B-but the fight-"

"Don't worry about the fight. You need to come with me." Mira pulled Lucy along as they headed towards the entrance of the guild before she looked back at her little sister, "Lisanna, stay and watch after Naruto! If he gets any worse than call someone to help carry him out!"

"R-roger!"

Mira and Lucy ran out of the guild and into the street, the entire block had been evacuated and emptied after the civilians were warned about the fighting taking place by the guild. Lucy looked around the abandoned street before she noticed a carriage and Reedus sitting in the driver seat with a pair of horses he had created from his Picto magic. She stopped in placed and looked at the carriage before shaking her head in confusion, "Wha-what's going on?"

Mira looked back at the younger girl, "Lucy, you need to get in the carriage with Reedus. He'll take you to a safe house at the edge of the city and away from the rest fighting."

"What?" Lucy eyes widened in shock before she shook her head with a shaky voice, "N-no, I can't just leave. Not while everyone's still fighting."

"Lucy, they are going to try and catch you during this fight. And I'm not sure we will be able to protect you if our focus isn't 100% on your safety." Mira shook her head, "We can't protect you here, so you need to go-"

"No!" Lucy cried and shook her head while desperately trying to persuade Mira to let her stay, "Please! You can't tell me to run while everyone-"

Lucy felt a sudden wave of fatigue and sleep wash over her after Mira had cast a spell on her. She fell into the barmaid's arms as she struggled to raise her into Reedus' arms, "Get her to safety."

"Oui. Of course." Reedus lifted Lucy gently into the carriage and lied her down before he climbed back up into the driving seat. He grabbed the straps connected to the horses before he looked down at Mirajane and gave her a concerned look, "Please stay safe."

Reedus whipped the straps and the horses whinnied before charging down the street and as far away from the war as possible. Mira stood in the street silently and took a deep breath in before she felt the ground shake and rumble beneath her feet. She felt an immense sense of dread build up in her chest before she ran back inside and through the guild.

Mira ran to the edge of the ruined guild where her sister was watching from behind a broken wall as a loud shaking and banging was filling the area. In fact, everyone had momentarily stopped fighting so they could watch in horror as a massive shadow loomed over the shore and guild.

The mobile Phantom guild started to raise itself out of the water until the legs straightened out and they stood at their full height. The entire guild started to tilt and turn until it was flipped on its side and separated into several different sections. The sections hissed as pressurized air was released and the stone sections started to collapse together into a solid design. The cups at the end of the legs extended until they resembled hands and feet as the guild had transformed into something entirely different.

The Phantom Lord guild had changed into a humanoid form and was standing high above the Fairies and their guild.

"N-no way."

"Oh my god."

Erza eyes widened in shock before she gritted her teeth and shook furiously, "How far are they going to go?"

"(Fairy Tail...this is Master Jose again)." The intercom announced as Jose's vile voice rang through it, "(Since the Jupiter weapon has been destroyed thanks to your earlier efforts, we have had to resort to our last extreme resort.)"

The mechanical guild's arms started to click and turn as they were raised over the building's top. The hands slowly started to move and create a magical circle in the air. The Mages below gasped, "What the hell?!"

"T-that thing can use magic!"

"T-that can't-"

"(Our Giant Phantom Mk II is currently creating the magic circle for Abyss Break, one of the most powerful spells you kids have probably heard of.)"

"No!" Mira cried out from behind cover in the guild, "An Abyss Break of that size will level the town! You can't-"

"(This will be my last offer. Give Lucy Heartfilia up and you will all live to see another day. Don't...and I will make sure that all of you, your guild, and the name Fairy Tail are thoroughly wiped from the map.)"

Mirajane looked up in fright as the mechanical guild continued to draw the Abyss Break formula over their heads. She lowered her head and her shoulders started shaking before her body started to glow. Lisanna looked over to her side and watched as Mira glowed before the light disappeared, "M-Mira-Nee?"

Mira raised her head to reveal her hair and face had changed to resemble Lucy's. Lisanna looked down to see Mirajane had used Transformation to mimic Lucy's appearance and clothes down to the last detail. Her eyes widened, "Mira-Nee don't-"

Mira dashed out of her cover and started waving her arms to get attention, "I'm here! You wanted me right! Then take me!" Mira ignored the cries and warnings of her friends as she steeled herself and prepared to be captured by their enemy.

It was tense and silent as Mira's proclamation echoed through the air and no response had been returned from the people inside the massive guild. Until the chime rang out once again.

"(If you are really trying to deceive us, I suggest you try to use a better means of disguising yourself against me than that, you foolish little girl.)"

A large group of Shades gathered to together in a large group and swarmed around Mira until her form was no longer visible in the ball of black and purple energy. Erza dashed forward and screamed, "MIRA!"

The redhead was intercepted when another wave of Shades was brought into existence and started attacking everyone in the field once again. Erza was forced to block and hold off the mass of attacking specters as everyone's efforts to save their friend was interrupted and the ball started to levitate off the ground. It flew upwards until it hovered near the bottom of the mobile robot's body and just in line with the seal of the Abyss Break.

"MIRA!"

########Hunter########

Happy was desperately clinging to a block of concrete after he felt the entire guild shake and tremor as the rooms spun around and moved. After a few moments of waiting with baited breath, Happy finally detached himself from the rock and unfurled his wings so he cloud fly around the large room. He cupped his mouth with his paws, "Natsu? Where'd you go? Natsu~?"

"U-ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

Happy's ears perked when he heard the low, painful groan from one side of the room reach his ear. He carefully flew over to see that Natsu was planted against a pillar in the long hallway with his back impacted into the stone. He groaned painfully and had a pale look on his face as he shook his head, "Why...the hell...was everything moving around like that? O-oh, my stomach."

"You should be more worried about you back Natsu. I don't think people are supposed to bend that way."

Natsu took a deep breath and braced himself before tensing his body and breaking out of his concrete confines. He fell back to the floor and wiped his mouth before dusting the dirt off his clothes. He looked around carefully, "What the hell was that?! Was that an earthquake or something?!"

"The whole room spun around and flipped. I don't think earthquakes do that."

"What, did the building flip over or something?"

"I don't know." Happy looked around in confusion before he gasped, "Everything changed!"

"What?!" Natsu ran towards the entrance he had barged through a moment earlier and saw that nothing was the same. They had effectively lost their position in trying to find the support system for the mobile guild. He punched and cracked the wall, "SONUVA BITCH! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!"

Happy looked up towards a window and peered outside to get a look at what had happened. He titled his head in confusion and squinted his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. He floated back and down to his friend, "The building shifted and changed into something else. It-it kinda looks like a person now. A-and it's making a circle in the air. I don't know what's going on anymore!"

Natsu clicked his tongue and snarled, "Stupid Phantom bastards, can't just have a guild! Have to have a moving guild! And one that turns into a person! Which is actually kinda cool but still you guys are assholes!" Natsu's shoulders were shaking in anger before he groaned and continued forward, "Whatever. We still gotta job to do."

Happy watched the Dragon Slayer continue down the newly formed hallway and questioned, "Where are you going now?"

"I still gotta stop this thing from attacking the guild." Natsu pointed up, "You said the guild changed into a person or something, right? That's means it has a head. If it has a head then I can wreck the shit out of the inside and destroy it there, like a brain."

Happy just stared at him in shock before shaking his head, "It...it's stupid how that actually kinda makes sense."

"Then let's go!" Natsu yelled before he started charging down the hallway with Happy following right behind him...until Natsu just stopped in place without any warning.

Happy stopped flying and hovered in place before looking down at his pink-haired partner. He asked, "N-Natsu? What's wrong?"

Natsu stood up and looked around, noticing there was no one in sight despite the strange chill that ran up his back. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back before making a few sharp sniffs with his nose. His eyes slowly opened again, changing into fierce orbs of anger as he looked in one direction and didn't turn from there.

"Such misfortune. Such misfortune that you had sensed my presence near the end. If you had just continued on your way, I could have assured you a peaceful and quick demise. But now..."

The air down the hall started to warp and sway as an invisible figure started to take form in front of them. The air turned into a massive man in a green coat and with his eyes covered by a blindfold. He held his palms out and tears streamed down his face, "Such misfortune. Now, you must suffer."

Happy reeled back in shock, "What the heck?! W-where'd he come from?!"

"I am Aria of the Heavens." He held one palm out in an offensive stance before bringing the other to her sternum, "And I shall be your executor. Just as I was for the unfortunate Makarov-sama."

Natsu brought his fist in his hand and loudly cracked his knuckles before popping the crick in his neck. His hands burst into flames before he started stepping towards the big man, "I don't give a shit whether you're from Heaven or Hell...I'm making sure you pay a thousand fold for what you did to Jii-chan, you bastard.

Aria's hands shifted and the air around them started to turn, "Do not be so sure young one..."

Natsu's clothes and hair started to flutter and his flames started to flicker and die down. The burning flames that were once in his hands shrunk into faint lights as Natsu gritted his teeth.

"For you flames are not yet strong enough to beat the air itself."

########Hunter########

Elfman ran down the new hallway after everything had started turning and moving under his feet. He ignored the aching pain in his head when he accidentally slipped and slammed straight into a pillar during the shaking. He groaned, "What the hell was that? Did the whole building start playing tricks on me or something? Or was that a Mage?" Elfman stopped and yelled out for anyone to hear, "If you're hiding, stop being a coward! Men walk out and face their enemies head-on!"

...

Elfman got no reply and just grumbled before he looked over at the windows lined up along the wall. He ran over to them to see a giant magic circle being created right outside and already halfway done. He raised an eyebrow, "What the hell is that? Is this thing moving now?"

*Drip*Drip*Drip*

Elfman blinked in surprise as a small flurry of raindrops started to pound against the glass window before a downpour of rain took its place. Elfman stepped back from the window, confused by the sudden rainstorm that had appeared on what was supposed to be a sunny day throughout the evening. The large Mage stayed on his guard, feeling a sense of anxious stir inside him as the strange rain continued to pour.

"Drip. Drip. Drip."

Elfman looked down the corridor and could see a young woman with a closed umbrella in her hands slowly walk over to him. She looked back up at the large man in front of her and spoke in a calm, level tone, "Juvia must apologize for the inconvenience. Juvia did not realize that you had discovered her location so quickly. You are far more aware of surroundings than you appear."

Elfman blinked silently and let his eyes pan over the area. To be honest, he wasn't actually expecting someone to be in the hallway with him when he yelled. He just wanted to vent. Although he wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. He furrowed his eyes, "Who are you?"

"I am Juvia of the Great Sea. Member of the Elemental Four."

"Elemental Four? That means you're our enemy." Elfman's arms started to glow before they transformed into their Iron Bull forms. He cracked his knuckles, "I don't enjoy the idea of hitting a woman...but I hate the idea of forsaking my guild because of my hesitation. I have to stop this machine from attacking, and a man should do whatever he can to save the people he cherishes."

"That is honorable..." Juvia narrowed her eyes at the large man, "But Juvia must inform you that she will not be holding back in return if you chose to fight."

"FINE!" Elfman dashed across the marble and made the distance in just a few seconds before he punched Juvia straight in the chest, hoping to end the fight as quickly as possible before he continued his search. But he was shocked to see that the moment he touched her, her entire upper body changed into water. The white-haired Take Over Mage stared in shock as the piece of water started to converge towards the legs, "What the fuck?"

The body started to reform from the scattered drops of water and the young woman's body was recreated into its flawless form. Elfman stared at the back of the blue-haired woman before she turned and spoke, "Your attacks are fierce, but nothing you do will be able to affect my Water Body. Juvia is your worst form of enemy."

The waved her hand towards him and a blast of water blew him across the hall. He rolled along the floor before skidding a few feet me glaring up at her. Juvia' arm started morphing into water and she swung her arm down to create a sharp blade of water, "Water Slicer!"

Elfman switched to Stone Bull and planted his hands into the ground before uprooting the stone and using it as a barrier. He slammed his hands against the rock and started pushing it down the hallway as a shield as the water blasted parts of it off.

Juvia continued sending blades of water to destroy the marble shield before it broke apart and Elfman roared through it. He used his stone arms as a shield before he started sending jabs and hooks at the blue-haired beauty. But it still proved ineffective as each part he struck turned into water before changing back into the Phantom Mage.

Juvia placed her hand against Elfman's chest before blasting him back into the wall with enough force to crack and splinter the brick behind him. Juvia ended the torrent of water and Elfman slumped onto the floor, soaking wet and his eyes shadowed by his hair. Juvia held her umbrella with both hands before glaring down at him, "Surrender. You have no chance of defeating Juvia with your abilities."

"Shut up." Elfman groaned as he lifted his head and glared up at her, "Shut your goddamn-"

"-AHHHHHHHHHH!"

The wall behind Juvia blew apart and Gray came flying in and through her body before he slammed against Elfman with a painful thud. The two Fairies groaned before a giant fist of stone formed from the ground and punched them through the wall.

Elfman and Gray started falling out of the guild and towards a very painful landing before Gray slammed his fist into his palm, "Ice Make: Ladder!"

Ice connected to the edge of the broken wall and the two men just narrowly latched onto it before it was too far. Rain poured down on them and Elfman looked down at Gray, "Where the hell did you come from?!"

"The other side of the wall! Everything started turning and then this fruity bastard started popping out of the ground and attacking me!" Gray yelled over the sound of the rain before it started getting in his eyes, "Why the hell is it raining?! There wasn't a cloud in the sky earlier! And how did we get wet so fast?!"

"I don't know! Just climb!"

Juvia stared at the new hole in the hallway as the ground besides her started to rise up and change into a lanky man with a monocle. She looked at him, "Monsieur Sol, are you all right? You are not harm, are you?"

"Non non non, nothing to be concerned about Madame Juvia." Sol said, trying to ignore the stinging pain from the bruise on his cheek where Gray had landed a pretty hefty punch during their brawl. Sol chuckled, "But Master Jose will not be happy to find out we have Fairies riddling our guild hall. So we should exterminate them before they start wrecking our...how should we say...shit?"

"Agreed."

Elfman's hand came over the side and grabbed the floor before pulling himself and Gray back into the hallway. They were panting heavily and Elfman looked up before groaning with annoyance, "And now there are two of them. Fantastic. And you are?"

"I am Sol of the Land. Gentleman and Mage of the Elemental Four."

Gray groaned from where he was taking a moment to rest, "He's an Earth Mage."

"Yeah Gray, figured that out when he hit us with a big stone fist." Elfman pushed himself up and rubbed his neck before spitting to the said and scowling at the two Phantoms, "That just means we have two people to beat instead of one."

"You could not handle Juiva by yourself. What hope do you have of beating us both?"

Gray rolled onto his stomach and started lifting himself up again, "Because now you're dealing with two Mages from Fairy Tail instead of just one. And those are terrible odds in your favor."

Juvia narrowed her eyes before aiming the tip of her umbrella at the raven-haired man as he started standing up, "You speak confidently, but your true weakness will reveal itself when-"

And just like that...Juvia whole world started slowing down.

She first noticed his strong, grounded legs that were better viewed now that the rain had pressed them against his skin. He wasn't wearing a shirt for some reason, but Juvia couldn't complain as she got a full view of the absolutely gorgeous show of his body. He had a layer of bandages wrapped around his abdomen with a small splotch of fresh blood forming over the right side of his stomach, but even then she could view his rippling six pack abs underneath the fabric. Her rain was slowly traveling down his pecs and glistening his already perfect skin. And finally, he ran a hand through his ivory hair and parts it enough for her to see catch of glimpse of the dark shade of blue diamond that surrounded the eyes that pierced her soul.

Juiva swore she could hear fireworks.

Her vision started to become dream-like and warm as her brain kicked up a gear and she started imagining hundreds of different scenarios and romantic situations and-

"-dame Juvia? Are you listening?"

"H-Huh, what?! W-what is it?!"

"Are you okay! You were tres spacey a moment ago."

Juvia blushed and waved her hands around in protest, "I-I wasn't fantasizing! Or dreaming about how much cheese I could grate on those ab-I MEAN how sturdy his arms-I MEAN his firm butt-uhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Juiva started whimpering while covering her vermillion face.

Sol just stared at the woman with confusion at how the usually stoic lady now seemed to be breaking down for some reason.

Elfman took a moment to look down at his comrade and noticed the growing red stain over his wrappings. He looked back up at his enemies, "Your wound reopened."

"Yeah. I noticed." Gray responded while wiping the rain out of his eyes, "That's the problem with fighting a guy that throws rock around like he's waving his arms."

"I think I get it." Elfman said while rubbing his neck, "That girl can change her body into water. Can't land a hit, can't make a dent, and can't do a damn thing."

"Hmmm." Gray rotated his shoulder, "Sounds like you'd have an easier time breaking stone than hitting water."

Elfman cracked his neck, "And I bet freezing water is a lot more effective than freezing rock."

"..."

"..."

"Tag-in(x2)!"

The two men clapped before they charged forward while yelling at the top of their lungs. Elfman jumped and slammed his fists down on the ground and created crater that blew Sol and Juvia back. Gray ran up a dislodged section of marble and started attacking, "Ice Make: Lance!"

Several spears of ice shot from his hand and Sol had to dodge out of their path as they ran through Juvia's body without harm. Elfman charged at Sol and started attacking him as Gray slid down the spires of ice and towards the Water Mage. Gray slammed his hands together and created a massive hammer that fell towards Juvia, "Ice Make: Hammer!"

Juvia swung her arms up and blocked the ice attack with a burst of water. She started wildly swinging her arms around to defend herself as Gray froze the water and started skating along the ice to better maneuver around the area. He created a bow, "Ice Make: Arrow!"

Juvia created two massive torrents of water that blew away the onslaught of arrows, "Water Nebula!"

The water and ice impacted and a small cloud of snow started raining down on them as Gray landed on his feet. He stood back up and looked at the clashing elements they had created, "Elfman was right; you are a tough opponent being able to control water so easily like this. Definitely stronger than you look."

Juvia tried not to stutter with the partial compliment she had recovered from her handsome enemy and she looked off to the side, "O-of course, J-Juvia is one of the Elemental Four. S-she would not be so generously trusted by Jose-sama if she did not have the abilities to follow through."

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense." Gray said while gently touching the wound on his abdomen to make sure it wasn't too severe, "It's gonna be really hard trying to get an advantage with our powers being ice and water, considering they work together so well."

"T-t-t-t-t-t-together!" Juvia's face turned red and she covered her cheeks and started fantasizing again, taking Gray's throwaway comment to mean something much, much different than he was intending.

"Um, are you okay? Feelin' all right?"

"J-J-Juiva's fine! S-she just needs a moment to compose herself! J-just keep standing there, in your wet, naked glory and-"

"MAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNN!"

Elfman yelled as he charged through a wall of stone and tried to punch Sol as the Phantom man sunk into the rock and away from danger. Elfman clicked his teeth in annoyance as Sol reformed out of the stone and leaned towards the side while running a finger of his mustache. He laughed, "Hohoho, your fists are truly destructive. You are rowdy to a fault, Monsieur Elfman."

"I take that as a compliment!" Elfman yelled as he stood up and pumped his arms, "A man can cause as much destruction as he needs. And he'll do anything he needs to do to reach his goal! But no man should run and hide like this to avoid fighting!" He pointed at Sol, "Either face me like a man or retreat like a coward! You can't have a middle ground!"

"Ohohoho, of course. Of course. I was just waiting for an opportunity to find an appropriate means to attack. And I believe I have found it." Sol raised a hand and a slab of rock rose from the ground, causing Elfman to lower himself into a defensive stance in preparation. But Sol tensed his hand and the rock disintegrated into dust and rubble. Elfman blinked in confusion before Sol smiled and threw his hands forward, "Sable Dance!"

The sand started to swarm and constrict around Elfman as he tried to fight but could not find anything solid to strike. He coughed, gagged, and struggled as his whole body was covered by sand before it exploded and blasted him across the hallway. He coughed and stood back up before dozens of small boulders started impacting all over his body, "Richeto Concerto!"

Elfman tried to protect himself but before he could bring his arms up he had already been his in the eye, nose, shoulder, stomach, and knees. He fell on his knee and continued to guard himself as the boulders shattered against his arms. The ground beneath him warped before exploding beneath him and leaving him a bloody, beaten mess on the ground.

Sol chuckled menacingly as he started to approach the beaten man.

Elfman's eyes slowly peeled open and he tried taking a deep breath only to feel his ribs ache and creak under the pressure. He coughed and gasped before lying back and taking a moment to regain his bearings. But when his eyes wandered outside, he saw a mass of black energy circling around a target in front of the massive magic circle. He looked at the black mass in confusion before he swore he saw something in the pitch blackness.

A shade of white hair.

His eyes widened in horror before a foot slammed on his chest and he gasped for air. Sol smiled, "Hohohohoho, did you see something terrifying, Monsieur Elfman? Your beloved soeur, the beautiful Mademoiselle Mirajane, trapped in a cage of evil? Yes, Master Jose thought it was a fitting punishment for a lying wench like her."

"What?!" Elfman's eyes widened before he snarled his teeth and veins started beating over his fac. He swiped Sol's foot off his chest and struggled to stand back up, "What did you say?! What did you fucking bastards do to Nee-chan?!"

"Master Jose apprehended her in a cage of his Shade magic. And his Shades can stimulate the darkness and negativity in an individual...so imagine what it can do to a failure like you or your sister."

Elfman's eyes widened in horror.

Sol smirked, "Oh yes, I am very well aware of the circumstance related between your family and that eventful S-Class job you went on. I was particularly interested in it when I was researching your guild extensively. How Mademoiselle Mirajane invited her siblings on a dangerous job and failed to protect you both, nearly getting all of you killed in the process. In fact, wasn't it you that almost slaughtered your own family? Yes...if Monsieur Naruto didn't arrive in time to save them, would you have killed them?"

The rock around them started to warp and change into realistic figures of Lisanna, Mirajane, and Elfman. Elfman reached out and grabbed both of their necks before Sol started patronizing him, "Wasn't it because you were weak? Was it not because of your own irredeemable failure that if it he had arrived just one moment later...if he hadn't been there to stop you...you would have been able to escape from your own failure."

*SNAP*SNAP*

Lisanna and Mirajane fell lifeless to the ground as the Elfman clone stood there silently with an animalistic grin on his face. The real Elfman just looked at the scene in horror before Sol morphed the ground around them and changed it into a massive fist before slamming it into Elfman, "Platre Sonata!"

The giant fist-shaped Earth spell slammed straight into Elfman's chest and blew him back at break-neck speed. His eyes rolled into the white and blood poured out of his mouth and part of his chest where he was hit. The large man bounced along the rock without resistance as Gray saw his injured comrade sustain injury. He yelled, "ELFM-GLUBBBBBB!"

"Water Lock!" Water swirled around and caught Gray in a bubble he couldn't escape from. Gray struggled to move in the ball of liquid as Juvia meekly reassured him, "J-Juvia is sorry, b-but this way we don't have to fight any further."

"Hohohohoho!" Sol cackled wildly as he slowly slumped his way towards the downed man, "Truly pathetic, Monsieur Elfman! Is this truly all that Fairy Tail has to offer?! I'm worried Jose-sama may be going insane if he believe any of you are truly a threat! Is this really all there is? Do you have nothing else to try?! To say?!"

Elfman gasped for air before his mouth started to move and he whispered something under his breath.

Sol continued to toy with him and eagerly placed a hand around his ear, "Oh, excusez-moi?! Please reappear yourself?! I didn't quite hear that?!"

Elfman's eyes widened and he growled through close teeth...

"Beast Soul."

Elfman entire body started to glow and change as Sol's laughter died in his throat. The light was so bright that Juvia stopped watching Gray hold his breath and Gray stopped from preparing to freeze the water as he saw his friend take on a new, terrifying form.

Elfman's usually large form grew twice in size and bulk, becoming even more intimidating than he already was. His shirt and pants disappeared to make way for his inverted animals legs and large, scaly arms. Horns started growing out of his shoulders and his head as his hair started becoming a mane down his back. His teeth became sharp and he let out a very low growl. Sol started backing away in absolute fear before the massive monster let out one last low growl and looked down at him with pure anger.

"Wanna repeat yourself Phantom? I'm all ears now."

Sol cowered in fear as he legs began to shake, "I-impossible. Y-you're not supposed to be able to control the Full-Body Tale Over! H-how did you-"

"Two years. I have been wallowing in my failure for two years. I never allowed myself to forget what I could have done to Lisanna and Nee-chan if I wasn't stopped before it was too late. But I didn't let that control me. I learned from my mistake and had to become stronger." Elfman raised his massive hands and gripped them tightly, "I'm a man. What I fail to control at first...I learn and conquer it soon after. So get ready you dusty fuck...you're about to get a first-hand lesson on that."

"A-AHHHHH!" Sol waved his arms and dozens of massive boulders shot out of the ground and bounced off Elfman's solid form. The Beast continued stalking forward as Sol threw attack after attack at him to no avail. Sol decided it was time to run and started merging with the groun-

Elfman sung his fist along the pavement, making a trench and creating a massive torrent of wind pressure along his arms. The attack was so powerful that it blew Juvia off her feet and knocked the prison of water enough for Gray to escape it with a gasp of air. The force of the punch destroyed the ground and knocked Sol out into the air where he couldn't attack anymore.

Elfman reeled his fist back and glared at the Earth Mage, "Just so you know...you're biggest mistake was insulting my sister, you arrogant prick."

Sol sweated, "O-oh non."

"HAAAA!"

Elfman landed his jab across Sol's entire body and sent him rocketing down the hallway with enough force to bounce across every wall and floor until he finally slammed into the back of the hallway unconscious. Elfman didn't wait another second before he looked back outside and charged through the hole to jump to another platform, "Nee-chan!"

Juvia lifted herself back up with a pained groan as she spotted the monster jump out of the broken section of the wall and scale it towards the mass of dark magic. She struggled to stand up as she looked around for her umbrella and hat, "J-Juvia, she underestimated that man. She didn't expect him to be so...ferocious in fighting Monsieur Sol."

"Freeze!"

The ground underneath Juvia became covered in ice and locked her legs into place. She looked down in shock before Gray pushed his way through the rubble with a small smirk, "Gotcha."

Juvia panicked with a blush, "O-oh no, J-J-Juvia isn't ready to be bound yet! She's still very inexperienced in the ways of love and p-passion and-"

"Seriously, are you sick or something? I think you're having hallucinations." Gray stood back up and flinched in pain before looking down to see a much larger splotch of blood over what remained of his bandages. His wound probably didn't appreciate all the thrashing around and warm water while it was trying to close. He placed his hand on it and froze the wound shut before looking up at the captured girl, "That was a good move to try and immobilize me like that. But you're gonna have to try a lot harder if you wanna stop me."

"That's not necessary." Juvia meekly avoided her eyes under his intense gaze, "J-Juvia forfeits to you."

"You can't-wait what? Seriously? Y-you surrender?" Gray looked at the woman in shock before he tilted his head and scratched, "Can...Can you just surrender like that? I thought we were beating the shit out each other until we couldn't move?"

"W-why would you think that?"

"I don't know...that's how it usually works with us." Gray rubbed his chin in thought before shrugging his shoulders, "Um, okay. I guess that's it."

Juvia looked at him before hesitantly looking to the side and speaking, "U-um, y-you don't have keep fighting if you do not wish to. J-Juvia would be more than happy to lead you somewhere-"

"Well, I guess we just gotta break this thing. But shit...Natsu might be right that we gotta handle Master Jose if we wanna save Lucy."

...

Lucy...Heartfilia?

He was challenging an entire guild...a powerful weapon...even a Wizard Saint...just for one girl?

How much did he love her?

He was willing to go through hell to protect her.

...

Why...why didn't she ever have someone to cherish her like that?

"Ahhhh, it's the Rain Freak!"

"Run away! She'll make every day gloomy just being around her!"

"We just can't ever see the sun when you're around, you know that."

"It's always raining with you! You're worthless!"

Why? Why did he love this other girl so much?

Why couldn't she have someone to love her too?

Juvia's shoulders started to shake and steam started coming off of her body. It was so hot that the ice around her legs started to melt and wash away until she was freed. Her legs and arms started morphing into water and swirling around the ground violently. She started grinding her teeth, "Juvia..."

Gray looked back and saw Juvia had escaped her confines and saw the angry look on her face, "Huh, what are you-"

"JUVIA'S PISSED!"

Juvia started rushing forward and nearly overwhelmed Gray before he jumped to the side to roll out of the way. He jumped back up and looked at her with confusion, "What the hell?! I thought you surrendered?!"

"JUVIA IS SICK OF BEING LONELY!" Juvia threw her hand out at Gray and a torrent of boiling hot water started shooting at him.

"Shit!" Gray guarded with his arms as the stream of water hit him too fast for him to dodge. He groaned, "Fuck! Hot! Hot!" Gray struggled before he was able to escape under the pressure of the stream and slide along the wet ground before slamming his hands down, "Freeze!"

A good portion of the ground was frozen over with a sheet of ice before he started skating across it and way from Juvia's vicious attacks. Gray fired a wave of spears at Juvia to try and slow her down but her water drowned his attacks and dissolved them with their blistering heat. He leaned to the side but the boiling water caught his shoulder and left slight burns on his skin. Gray jumped to the side and fell to his knee while holding his brunt side and arms.

Juvia made a turn and started charging at Gray with rage fueling her every move.

Gray waited. He waited patiently for the perfect moment to strike. Juvia thrust her arms out and two streams of water shot at him with immense pressure. He let the currents blast and completely overwhelm him until...

Now!

Gray slammed his hands down on the frozen floor and yelled through the water, "Freeze!"

With the extra ice that covered the floor, Gray was able to use the cold temperature to block the boiling hot water long enough to make it a moderate heat. And in that moment, Gray created a freezing reaction that steadily froze every last drop of water Juvia was using to attack him into a massive spire of freshly made ice.

Juvia was frozen at the top of the spire of ice as she felt both her blood and her emotions slowly start to cool down. She couldn't move anymore. That last little frenzy sorta drained the last of her strength. She deserved this. Juvia couldn't learn to control herself so she deserved to be punished.

This was her fate.

*Crack*

Juvia's eyes widened as the ice around her broke apart and she started falling towards the floor. But before she could make a painful landing, Gray appeared beneath her and caught her in his arms. He was beaten, burnt, bloody, bruised, and tired, but Gray still managed to give a weak smile at the woman in his arms, "Guess I win now, right?"

Juvia blinked in shock before she questioned, "W-why? Why would you let Juvia go like that?"

Gray just shrugged, "Don't know. I mean you seem kinda crazy, but I don't feel like you're malicious in what you're doing. Definitely not as bad as the rock bastard Elfman beat. So I can't just leave you to freeze like that. Consider it an act of kindness from by bottomless heart."

Juvia looked up at her enemy with wide eyes and flushing cheeks. She felt strange warmth start to spread over her chest as her heartbeat started ringing in her ears. She felt...

The rain finally stopped pouring outside and the clouds over the guild started to part. A few rays of sunlight started to peek out from the dark clouds and geared down on Juvia as she squinted her eyes at the gorgeous sight. She stared up at the sun, for the first time in her life, and realized just how beautiful it was.

Gray looked up and smiled, "Hey, look at that. Sun's finally coming out. Guess we don't have to worry about the rain anymore."

Okay. That sealed it.

She was in love.

########Hunter########

Elfman climbed up the side of the massive mobile guild before finding a steady platform to latch onto. He looked at the mass of black magic before yelling at the top of his lungs, "Nee-chan! Nee-chan, can you hear me?!"

He got no response.

He yelled, "Nee-chan!"

He waited anxiously for an answer...

"I'm...sorry."

Elfman's eyes widened when he heard his older sister's voice without a hint of emotion or concern. She continued, "I'm sorry I failed everyone. I...I can't help anyone anymore. Lucy. Naruto. Lisanna. Elfman. All of you...I'm sorry that I've failed you."

Elfman's eyes widened before he gritted his teeth and jumped off the platform. He threw his hand out and pierced it into the ball of magic containing his sister, holding him up from falling undress of feet down into the beach. He instantly felt a cold sensation run through his spine as doubt, fear, contempt, pity, self-loathing, and weakness started piercing his mind. Shit...he was losing his focus. Everything bad thing he's ever done...every mistake...and it was coming right back to haunt his thoughts. H-he needed to-

"Gotcha!"

Elfman focused his mind long enough to grab his sister's arm before pulling her out and dissipating the ball of magic that contained her. He held her closely with one arm before latching onto the walls again and climbing towards the hole they had made in their earlier fight.

He pulled himself back in and saw Gray standing over the unconscious rain girl. He must've defeated her while Elfman was off to save his sister. But why did she seem so peaceful and...happy? Weird.

Gray looked up and then noticed Mira in his scaly arms, "Shit, is she okay? What happened?"

"That ball she was surrounded in was messing with her head. I was caught in it for a sec and...shit Gray, it was like every pitiful thought that's ever gone through my head started going into a frenzy again. I couldn't stand it."

"Damn. What the hell is wrong with that Jose bastard?" Elfman gently lowered his sister into the ground and Gray came to her side to check while Elfman looked on in concern, "Mira? C'mon, wake up. Wake up. We can't go losing you too."

After a few tense moments they were expecting the worse until Mira's face started to scrunch up. Her eyes started to flutter open before she left out a moan of pain. Gray and Elfman both lightened up and Elfman was nearly jumping at the sight of his sister being all right, "Nee-chan!"

Mira slowly started to try and lift herself up on her hands while Gray helped her sit up. She rubbed her head groggily before looking around, "Gray? W-what happened?"

"Don't know. How did you get caught in that ball of Shade?"

Realization started coming across her face as she remembered what had happened before everything went dark, "I...I was trying to stall Phantom's attack by changing into Lucy and turning myself in. But they recognized me in an instant and captured me...I remember a lot of bad memories an-"

Mira froze in shock when she looked up to see a very familiar figure standing over her. She recognized The Beast standing over her and breathed out, "Elfman...is that you?"

Elfman wanted to smile and reassure his sister before he realized what he was transformed into right in front of her. He backed off and started shaking his head, "N-no, Nee-chan, don't look! You shouldn't have to see this!" He turned away from her and tried to get her attention away from him, "Just look away for a moment and-"

Mira stood back up and looked at her little brother with surprise, "Elfman...you can control your magic now?"

Elfman hid his face from her sulking his shoulders and lowering his arms. His whole body glowed brightly before they saw him change back into his normal form with his back turned to them. He shook his head, "I learnt to control it a year ago. I didn't want to risk the chance of losing myself to it again. I tried and I thought about it over and over and no matter what...I didn't want to use this power for anything ever again."

Elfman looked down at his own hands with hate and self-loathing, "Mother and Father told us never to be afraid or lose ourselves to the forms we take but...but how could I ever want to use this form again? After everything it's done? How it made me into a monster. How it spit in the face of everything our parents taught us to do with the power we have. How it made me hurt you and Lisanna! How I nearly..." Elfman was seething with anger before he gripped his fists, "This monster ruined our lives. I ruined everything. I wanted to be strong without relying on this thing anymore but...I'm still weak. All these years...and I still can't protect you."

Elfman felt the weight of his failure beat down on him...until a pair of soft hands grabbed his hand gently. He was slowly turned around and was surprised to see Mira looking up at him with tearful eyes and a proud smile. She wiped a tear away, "I am so proud of you for being this strong."

"What?"

"You overcame your monster, Eflman, something that nearly overtook you. You faced that adversity and defeated it. That's something...I was always scared to do while I had my magic." Mira said solemnly before looking up at him and seeing the injuries that riddled his body, "You shouldn't have to hide your power like that. Not if your life is in danger."

Elfman shook his head, "But it's because of that form that you can't fight anymore. I'm the reason you and Lisanna almost died."

"No. Elfman, that wasn't you. That was The Beast. And I lost my magic because I can't come to terms with what I almost did to you and Lisanna. And until I can...I need to repent for my endangerment of your lives." Mirajane said before looking up at her little brother, "But that power. You're using it to help your friends and family. You're using it to do everything Mom and Dad told us we could do with our strength. Don't feel ashamed for using it. It's a part of you. And Lisanna and I will never hate you for using it...because you're our brother. Our brother that does everything he can to protect what he loves." She smiled up at him, "How could we ever hate you for that?"

Elfman looked down at his big sister after her kind words had finished going through him. He struggled to hold the feeling in his chest but it was welling up inside him. And there was something else. Something that was freeing him from years of pain and hesitation...

Relief.

Elfman tried to stop the tears streaming out of his eyes before he sobbed a little into his arm. He hiccupped, "Thank you. Thank you so much." Mira smiled warmly before standing up on her toes and gently bringing his head down to cry into her shoulder as she rubbed his back.

Gray watched the siblings have their scene of reconciliation and smiled at the warm scene. They separated and Elfman wiped the last of his tears away before Gray took a moment to look outside the hole in the wall. His eyes wandered until he spotted the giant magic circle being drawn by the guild with hands.

His eyes widened before looking back at his comrades, "Did this thing get slower?"

Mira and Elfman looked over at him, "What was that?"

Gray pointed outside, "The giant robot thing. It was making that circle at a pretty normal pace. But now it is way slower...like it's not even moving."

"What?!" Mira came running to his side and peeked out of the large hole in the wall to see that the moving guild had almost stopped drawing the circle for Abyss Break. Her eyes widened before she turned back to the two younger men, "Quick, what happened since it started writing that magic circle? What changed?"

Elfman crossed his arms in thought, "You mean since the whole guild started shaking and moving?"

"Yes!"

Gray scratched his head, "Um, I don't know. The guild moved. We kept looking for ways to take the whole thing down. Oh!" Gray looked over to where Juvia was peacefully resting her eyes after finishing their fight, "We beat her and Mustached Asshole over there."

Mira looked at the beaten Juvia and Sol before clarity started overtaking her, "It's the Elemental Four."

Elfman and Gray looked at her and questioned, "What about them?"

"They're the key! Master Jose is using Living Link magic to power the guild's movement and the magic circle! And the Elemental Four are the power source!" She looked at them with hope brimming in her eyes, "If we defeat all of them then we can cripple the entire mechanism! We can stop Abyss Break!"

Gray and Elfman looked between each other in shock before trying to remember what they've done so far. Elfman counted on his fingers, "If took out that Earth bastard!"

Gray looked over a Juvia, "And she's the Water user!"

Elfman thought intently, "And there was a Fire user down in the cannon room we all beat up!"

Mira nodded, "Then that only leaves the Air user, Aria of the Heaven. If we can beat him, we can save everyone!"

"Well what are we waiting for?" Gray cracked his knuckles and grinned, "Let's go kick this Aria guy's ass!"

Mira stopped before they charged away, "It won't be that easy. If the rumors are true, Aria is of a completely different league compared to the rest of the Elemental Four. And it's possible that he's not even utilizing the full extent of his power when he fights because it's too overwhelming."

Elfman furrowed his eyes, "So what you're saying is..."

Gray finished, "If we mess this up, we're finished."

########Hunter########

The sound of hooves galloping along stone was pounding through Reedus' ears as he drove the carriage through the empty town. He could still hear the sounds of explosions and fighting all the way across the town as he guild mates fought desperately to defend themselves from Phantom Lord. But he couldn't focus on that right now. He was given the job of hiding Lucy away at their safe house and guarding her from any enemy forces. This was what he could do to help his guild.

Even though he felt so empty inside, this was what he needed to do.

"You have to take me back."

Reedus perked up and looked back to see his sleeping passenger had finally woken up from her forced slumber. He was surprised that she was able to force herself awake from Mira's spell so quickly. Lucy looked up at him with pleading eyes, "Please, you have to take me back. This is all my fault."

Reedus looked at her for a moment before turning back to the road, "I'm sorry Lucy, but I can't do that. I was asked to protect you, and I will do just that."

"But they're all fighting back there! They're suffering and getting hurt fighting Phantom! Don't you want to do something?!"

Reedus nodded, "Of course I do. But Phantom is pining after you, and if we lost you than all of this would be for nothing. All the fighting. All the pain. We don't want to lose you Lucy."

"But I don't want anyone else to get hurt!" Lucy yelled back at him as tears started filling up her eyes. She shook her head, "Do you have any idea how horrible it feels to know there are so many people suffering right now because of me? So many people are getting hurt fighting for me. A-and I know they're doing it because I'm part of the guild. Because I'm family. And I love everyone in this guild like family too. But if I could stop all the fighting...if I could save all of you anymore pain...I-I just don't want Fairy Tail to suffer anymore because of me."

Reedus listened as Lucy's sobs permeated the silence. He understood what she meant. And he finally started to get it now. If he was ever the cause of pain for the guild, he would surrender himself immediately to stop any of them from getting hurt. He completely understood the intention and feeling she was putting behind her proposal. But...

"Lucy, has anyone at the guild told you how Fairy Tail came to odds with Damnation?"

Lucy stopped her crying and looked up at the wide man's back as he continued to lead the horses through the town. She rubbed her eyes before shaking her head even though she knew he couldn't see her, "N-no. But the reports say that it was because Damnation was coming to attack Fairy Tail and destroy Magnolia. Master and all of the S-Class Mages went to fight them off and beat them. Was...was that not true?"

"Well, it is true that was their goal. But it was not the entire story of why they came to fight us. First, I have another question to ask." Reedus sent her a look over his shoulder, "Has anyone told you about Hashirama-San since you've come to the guild?"

Lucy sat up a little when she heard the same name as the main character she and Levy were writing in their new book. She nodded, "U-um, Levy-chan told me some of the stories he used to tell her."

"Yes, that makes sense. Levy was always enamored with the fantastic tales he used to tell the younger members when they asked him to talk." Reedus looked ahead again with a faint smile, "Hashirama-San was an old friend of Master Makarov's. He was a very old gentleman who spent most of his time at the guild with us because he was too old to take jobs with anyone. In fact, he wasn't even an official member of the guild...but that didn't matter. He was a kind old man, and we all came to love him very much as one of our own. A few children in particular, like Levy, Natsu, Erza, and Naruto were especially fond of him."

"But in his long life, Hashirama-San made...many enemies." Reedus' smile at remembering the past fell as he started to recall dark times in their past, "Somehow...I'm not quite sure but somehow, Hahsirama-San came to make a very serious enemy of the leader of Damnation, 'The Tyrant King'." Lucy's eyes widened in shock as Reedus continued, "One day, Magnolia was hit with a bomb. And all of us were attempting to stop the fire and save the town. But as we were doing that...Hashirama-San was going off to face Damnation by himself. Because that was all the bomb was supposed to be. A message to him that today they were going to finish their fight. But he didn't go alone. Naruto found out where he was going and followed him. And soon enough, Master found out where they were going as well."

"W-what?" Lucy looked up at Reedus' back in surprise at this new bit of information. Why was no one else ever told about this? Why wasn't this in any of the reports or papers?

"But Master asked all of us to wait at the guild while the S-Class went to go and bring them back." Reedus lowered his head, "That night, for hours, our guild was arguing and fighting with each other. Not like how we usually do when we drink too much or wrestle with each other. We all yelled and screamed at each other about what we should do to help. Some of us said that we should have followed Master and the others to go and rescue them. Others said that they would just get in the way and that we should just listen to Master's orders to protect the guild and town. We argued for hours until...they finally came back. Except..."

Lucy felt a pit in her stomach as he took a moment to gather himself.

"It turns out it was too late. Hashirama-San had already started the fight and...it was just too much for him. He just couldn't handle all of them by himself. We wanted to see him one last time at his funeral but the Master said...that it would be too much for us to see what was left of him." Reedus shook his head, "And Naruto...we never found out what happened to him but...it must've been horrible. He was hospitalized for a whole month and none of us got to see him except for Erza, who barely rested that whole month because she was so worried. When he finally returned, he smiled at all of us and reassured us he was okay, laughing and playing around like nothing had happened. But he had changed. For a while his smile just seemed so hollow and fake. He got better as time went on...but he was never the same again. None of us are."

"We all go visit his grave once a year on the anniversary of the attack and say our goodbyes. Actually, most of us go visit him monthly to pay our respects or just to see him again. To see the only member of our family to die while we were in Fairy Tail."

Lucy looked at Reedus as he sat back up and continued driving, "I'm telling you this Lucy, because I understand how painful it is to watch other people suffer because you think it's your fault. But we all have suffered worse from losing a member of our family because of our indecision. We weren't able to be there to help Hahsirama-San when he needed us. But we will be damned if we lose you to anyone who dares try and take you from us."

Lucy looked down in guilt as her mind started to register the story Reedus had told her. She closed her eyes and laid down in the wagon as the wheels rolled over the stone at the calming rhythm. Her eyes started to flutter as she started to remember something from her past...

"I remember the first time I heard about Fairy Tail."

Reedus offered his ear while he continued to drive, "I was only about 10 or 11 when I heard about it. I was going on a carriage ride, pulled by some horses, along with some of the servants working for my family. My dad was never really there because of business, so they were the closest I had to family at the time. I remember sitting in the carriage while they were off to get groceries before...I don't know what happened but the horse got startled and started running through the town. The whole carriage was thrashing around and I had never felt so scared before. I was so afraid that I was going to get hurt. Before I heard some people shout to me to stay calm while they took care of it."

Lucy started drawing along the wood with her finger, "There was a lady there. She jumped on the front of the carriage and unhooked the horses before she started steering the wheels away from the people and markets in the street. And there was a boy that grabbed the back of it and started to slow it down with as much force as he could without hurting us. And never saw her face, but I saw her hand." Lucy looked at her own hand and the pink insignia that rested in the back of it, "The symbol of a fairy with a tail rolling up behind it. I'd never seen something so pretty as that before."

She laid her hand by her face, "Anyway, they finally stopped the carriage and started talking to each other. And I don't know why but the lady freaked out and ran away, leaving just me and the boy. I asked him what he was going to do now and he started pushing the carriage back into town. I asked him if he was a Mage and he told me he was, so I started asking him what it was like because I had just started using my magic at the time as well. He told me he wasn't in a guild but there was one he wanted to be a part of. Fairy Tail. He told me he heard all these old stories about how amazing and nice it would be to finally join it and I just felt...so...compelled by what he was saying. A place that accepts all kinds into their group. A place that would never judge you for your past or your mistakes. A place where you can make a family. And I...just wanted to see it. Just one time. When I finally joined Fairy Tail, I wanted to find that boy and lady and thank them for what they did, but I can't remember what they looked or sounded like. I wanted to thank them. Thank them for showing me this place. Thank them for letting me find a home-"

*CRASH*

Something violently collided into the wagon and blew it into smithereens, blasting Reedus and Lucy out of its confines as the magically created item turned into smoke. Lucy bounced and rolled along the street pavement harshly before she came to a slowed halt. She gasped in pain and lifted her head, ignoring the blood trickling down her forehead, and looked over to see Reedus unconscious in the street, "R-Reedus."

Lucy reached down to her belt to grab her keys for help but found that they were not attached to her side anymore. She looked around in a panic before seeing them lying in the street just a few feet away from her. She struggled to pull herself over to them, ignoring the pain and overwhelming need to rest her head, as she needed to grab them quickly. She gasped and reached out to them...

Before a black boot slowly stepped down on them and away from her grasp. Lucy's eyes widened before she looked up to see the menacing grin on Gajeel's face.

He chuckled, "Hey Princess, we've been lookin' all over for you."

########Hunter########

His head...felt like it had been caved in, filled out, and broken in again a dozen times as he tried to open his eyes again.

Something was wrong. What happened to him? Seriously, he couldn't remember. Wait. He just had to focus. The last thing he remembers was...

He stopped Jupiter from hitting Erza and the others. He used his sword but that escaped from his hand. The he stopped it with...

Shit, he couldn't remember.

Naruto rubbed his head to get his bearings back, "Ughhhh. What happened?"

Wait. His head wasn't even hurting. He was sure he was supposed to be hurting right now. So why didn't anything hurt. Why did he feel...

Wet?

Naruto blinked his eyes before looking down to see he was kneeling in a massive pool of water. He blinked in surprise before looking around at his surroundings.

It was a sewer.

A sewer he was all too familiar with.

Naruto blinked in surprise and sat up as he looked around at the sewer he found himself in. This was that place. That place inside his mind where he would go to see Kurama when he was just a kid. Except he hadn't seen this place in ages. He never really had a reason to come back here since Kurama's consciousness disappeared and only left the featureless body behind those massive gates. But even those gates were gone from his sight after all these years.

Naruto looked to his side to see his left arm was still imbedded inside a massive wall that went all the way from the ground to the ceiling and locked away Kurama's chakra forever.

His arm was ripped off by the Wyvern. He stopped the bleeding with Kurama's chakra but it started altering his wound. Rob-jichan sealed off the possessed limb and told him it had turned different under Kurama's influence. And that was the last time he had seen this wall and sewer.

But now the wall was cracked and ruined. What did that mean?

Fuck it! That didn't matter! Phantom Lord was literally trespassing in their backyard and he was here sitting on his ass! He had to get back out there!

...

Naruto's eyes widened in shock when he failed to leave his surroundings. He shut his eyes even tighter and focused on leaving but still to no avail. Naruto looked around, "What the hell?! What's going on?!"

"What's wrong?"

"I-I can't get out!" Naruto started sing his knees to try and jolt himself awake. He gritted his teeth at his inability to escape before he punched the water, "Dammit! I need to get out there and help!"

"Do you need to go fight out there?"

"Of course I do! They need me!"

"Really? Because it sounds like they need someone who can handle a war."

Naruto want to repute in absolute fury before his eyes widened when he realized he had been speaking to someone so naturally in his own mind. He slowly looked over at the cracked wall that trapped his arm and realized he had heard a voice from the other side. A young, child-like voice.

He narrowed his eye, "Who are you?"

The wall around his arm finally started to break and fall apart around him as he got a clear view of the person whispering through the other side.

And the first thing he saw...was the black and red eyes piercing into him with a demonic grin to finish it off.

It was him.

Him as a child...and they were connected through a strange black mass that covered their left arms...but it was still him.

Naruto's eyes widened as he looked the younger version of himself over to try and understand what was happening. He was much younger than the real him, at least 12 or 13-years old. His hair was ragged and unruly while still somehow keeping its spiky feature. His teeth were sharper and his whiskers were rough but the most striking feature were his cold, emotionless eyes that pierced into Naruto's like he was a lesser being. And connected to his back was a string of red chakra that came from the massive faceless figure of Kurama locked behind those looming, intimidating gates.

Even in the midst of this odd situation, Naruto couldn't help but feel joy to see Kurama again, even if his consciousness was gone and it was just a hollow shell.

The younger, demented Naruto chuckled at the confused look on the original's face. Naruto glared at his corrupted self and spat out, "What the fuck are you supposed to be?"

"You can't possibly be that oblivious, are you?" The younger, black-eyed version of himself pointed at himself, "I'm you. The real you."

"No, you're not." Naruto shook his head, "Believe me, you have not experienced the same shit I have to call yourself the real me."

"Oh really? The assassinations? The war? The Tower? I was there for all of it." He placed a hand against his chest, "I survived through all of it too! I'm the part of you that is willing to survive and fight through anything. The part that knows the necessity of surviving. But that stupid old man had to do what he thought was best and lock me away for 'our own good'. Daft old geezer."

"Hey!" Naruto wanted to hit this kid for what he said about Rob but for some reason he couldn't move or attack.

The demonic doppelgänger saw his older counterpart struggle to stand and grinned, "But the most important part is that I'm the part that never abandoned Kurama." He gestured to the giant creature peacefully sitting behind the bars, "He sacrificed everything for us. And you abandoned him on another side of a wall for eight years, you ungrateful shit. Luckily, I was here to thank him. To learn from him."

Naruto felt his strength start to dwindle and looked at his younger self in confusion, "W-what do you mean learn?"

"He's been connected to me for all these years. I've learnt everything his chakra has been able to show me after all this time. The strength. The power." The black mass around their arms started to expand and spread, "The hate."

The black mass crawled up Naruto's arm and started to extend over his entire body. He tried to escape but he was held down at the miasma covered his legs and chest; he tried to scratch and tear it off but couldn't get a hold of it. Naruto desperately tried to save himself but...

It felt cold. He could hear people screaming and crying. He could feel all their malice and hate seep into every inch of his mind of soul.

It felt familiar.

It felt like war.

"Now...it's about time we get back to work."

########Hunter########

"GAH!"

"NATSU!"

Natsu was knocked across the room and slid on the floor with a busted lip and a bloody cheek. The pink-haired man coughed and gagged on his blood before spitting it out to the side and sitting back up to glare at his opponent. He wiped his mouth before standing back up, "Nice hit asshole. I'll give another one for that."

Happy watched with concern as his friend had taken another severe hit from the large man that controlled the air around them. Despite Natsu's best efforts he had not been able to make any progress on beating or even leveling the battle with Aria. His flames were snuffed out when the air around him was altered and changed. His attacks were evaded when Aria turned into air and escaped his clutches. And even when Natsu tried to run up to stairs to evade the fight all together, he ran into an invisible wall that stopped his movements all together.

Basically, this was the worst person Natsu could face at the moment.

Aria shook his head as tears ran down his face, "Such misfortune! That you would be so delusional as to think you still had a chance of surviving this encounter is so misfortunate!"

"Ah shut up already!" Natsu yelled angrily before charging the massive man once more. He prepared to land a barrage of strikes over his massive frame, "I'm sick of yer goddamn babbling!"

Natsu jumped and prepared to strike Aria but the Phantom Mage extended his hands and fired a barrage of concentrated air at him. He tried to guard himself as dozens of brick-like attacks hit all over his body. Natsu was blown back and he bounced on the ground before coughing up some blood and holding his ribs. Happy came flying down to his side, "Natsu!"

Natsu groaned, "I'm fine."

"No! No you're not fine!" Happy almost cried while looking him over, "You're beaten and bloody! You can't keep doing this!"

"I said I'm fine." Natsu forced himself back up and spit, "I'm just waiting for the right chance to strike back."

"You're resilience is commendable, but otherwise unnecessary. I swore to Master Jose to toy and play with any Fairies I encountered but now..it's time for me to finish you." His body started to fade away as his voice echoed out one last time, "Such misfortune. Such misfortune."

Happy looked around, frightened as the powerful Mage had disappeared from their senses to easily once again. He looked at Natsu for hope that they could escape to find a better course of action...

But he just had his eyes closed. The Dragon Slayer stood there silently and waited.

...

...

...

Natsu's eyes jutted open and he threw his fist upwards behind him, "HA!"

Aria reappeared out of his Aerospace as Natsu's punched landed directly under his chin and knocked him into the air. Aria gasped as he stumbled back before Natsu charged forward and dug his foot into his stomach. Natsu then sent a barrage of punches into the Air Mage's stomach, chest, and face under finally landing a haymaker on his cheek and sending him flying across the room.

Natsu landed back on his feet and cracked his knuckles before smirking, "See? Told ya I'd get you back."

Happy was staring at his partner with a slack jaw at the impressive feat he just preformed. He looked at the pink-haired man, "H-how did you-"

"The bastard cries so much I could smell his tears a mile away. He can hide his presence and magic as much as he wants but I can tell where he is from the salt. He just never got close enough for me to land a hit." Natsu smirked, "Finally did though."

Aria lifted himself on his hands and coughed up some blood before Natsu smirked, "How about now big guy? Wanna keep going or do you know what's good for you and just walk away?"

Aria was gritting his teeth in anger until he started tasting blood as he pulled off his blindfold and gathered his magic into his hands, "WRAHHHHH! ZETSU!"

Natsu stood strong as the barrage of concentrated air started coming at him and exploding everything in his eyes. The hallway started exploding and everything was covered in dust and obscured Aria's sight. Aria was certain that that he had finally beaten the stubborn Dragon Slayer.

But a wave of a black sword and the sight of scarlet hair waving in the dust dashed those thoughts.

Natsu and Happy were shocked at the sight of their redhead comrade as Erza stared forward at the powerful Air Mage across the hall. They both cheered, "Erza(x2)!"

"I came in here to help when I noticed the magic circle started slowing down." Erza spoke over her shoulder, "Glad to see you two have been holding out. And against someone as strong as 'Aria of the Heavens' no less. I'm proud of you both."

Natsu grinned and rubbed his nose, "No sweat."

"I'll handle it from here."

"Sure, no pro-FUCK THAT!" Natsu yelled angrily before arguing, "I was about to finish this asshole off myself! Don't butt in right at the end!"

"He's increased his magic exponentially at this moment Natsu. And he's and Air Mage, the very worse opponent for you to face." Erza looked back at him with a calm demeanor, "And you're injured. You should rest."

Natsu scowled before his eyes started roaming over Erza's body. He scoffed, "Like you're one to talk. You look like you're gonna keel over any sec."

"Yes. I was a bit over zealous in the fight out there. Ran myself a little too thin." She turned back around, "But I can manage."

"'Titania Erza'. I must say that I didn't think I would see you here." Aria abandoned his usual weeping act to grin menacingly, "To think you could counter my attack with just your sword. Your reputation precedes you."

"I would thank you if the vile nature of your magic power wasn't so repulsive."

Aria glared before he smirked, "You are far more competent than most of your guild. Especially that pathetic excuse for a man known as Hunter."

Natsu and Happy flinched.

Uh oh.

"He was surprisingly strong for one of you Fairies...too bad he was too weak-willed to finish the job, although even I have to commend him for doing something useful and sacrificing his useless life to try and save the rest of you miserable trash."

Natsu and Happy sweated and nervously looked over at Erza back as she stood completely still even after all of Aria's trash talk. Erza just walked forward and aimed her blade at the large man's form, "Enough talking. I came here to finish this fight. So will you surrender? Or will you stand?"

Aria smirked and the air around him started to whip and swirl around him. And it continued to extend further and further out until all the air in the room was started to become concentrated around him. He placed his palms on top of each other, "Zero!" He gathered the air around him until it started to become black and concentrated. The ultimate spell of death started to pull the air out of the Fairies' lungs before he threw out his hands, "DIE!"

The black concentration of magic blasted towards the Fairies and they could sense the absolute death spiraling towards them. It expanded and everything in sight became black around them like the nothingness of death.

*Schwip*

Erza swung Naruto's sword to cut the air. And then again. And again. And again. And again. And again. And again.

Erza gripped the Kokuryū with both hands and swung the blade at unbelievable speeds to cut through the airspace of death and towards its caster. Aria's eyes widened in horror as Erza blasted the last of his death spell out of existence and appeared directly in front of him. Erza looked up at him with focused eyes before taking a swing with her borrowed blade.

"KIYAHHHH!"

She swung the blade a dozen times in an instant and sliced Aria's chest open with numerous gashes. She finished the final swing and knocked Aria up into the air as he passed out her instantaneous beating. Aria's unconscious form flew up in the air before coming back to the ground at an even more violent rate and broke through the ground into the lower level.

Erza stood back up and swung the black sword to the side as the dust settled around them. She looked back over her shoulder with anger in her eyes, "Naruto didn't finish you off because he knows the value of people's lives. And if he really tried, you would have been nothing more than a smear on the walls. Don't ever mistake his mercy for weakness. Me...I'm not as forgiving as him."

Natsu and Happy cowered in fear at Erza's aggressive and brutal attack. Natsu also felt his pride shrink, considering he had been ducking it out with that bastard for the last ten minutes to no avail. Just as he was considering how he might need to pick up the pace with some training, Erza fell to a knee and gasped for air. Natsu and Happy ran to her side, "Erza(x2)!"

"I-I'm fine. Just tired." Erza used Naruto's sword for support as she caught her breath, "I just need to take a moment to rest. Then I'll be fine."

Natsu kneeled by her side, "You don't look fine. You look ragged."

Erza smiled, "You're one to talk."

"Well I'm used to getting knocked around. It's my charm."

"Hehe. Sure it is."

("Attention, Fairy Tail.")

Natsu, Happy, and Erza looked up as they heard the intercom ring again and Jose's voice reached their ears. He coughed into the mic and continued, ("You have all proven far more resourceful, resilient, and stubborn than I previously took you for. For that, I will applause you. But I should let you know that our fighting will be coming to a close soon. For you see-")

("AAAHHHHHHHHHH!")

Their eyes widened in horror when they heard Lucy's voice scream in pain over the intercom, ("Lucy Heartfilia-San is finally in our grasps.")

"LUCY!" Natsu yelled through gritted teeth.

("Now despite your wonderful company, our business with you all has nearly come to an end. Expect the final shots of our little war to be traded...very soon.")

The intercom rang out before turning off all together.

"FUCK!" Natsu punched the ground and was seething with rage, "GOD DAMMIT! I'LL KILL THOSE BASTARDS!"

"Natsu, calm down."

"NO! THEY HAVE LUCY! I'M NOT JUST GONNA CALM DOWN AND-"

Erza grabbed Natsu's collar and looked into his eyes, "I mean don't waste that anger having a tantrum. You need that emotion to go save Lucy."

He looked at her before asking, "What?"

"There are only two more people that have power left in Phantom. Jose...and the Iron Dragon Slayer. Now...can you smell where Lucy is?"

Natsu took a moment panting after that rage started getting his heart pounding before he nodded, "Yeah."

"And who is she with?"

"Black Steel."

"Then that's where you need to go. Take that anger, control it, find him and Lucy...and then let it all out. Turn it into your flames...and don't keep a single thought to yourself. We need you to save her Natsu."

Happy came flying to her side, "What about you?"

"I need a moment to get my strength back. Then...I'll see what I can do about Jose."

Natsu and Erza looked at each other before the pink-haired man nodded his head. He turned around, walked through the rubble and debris covering the hallway before going up the stairs, "Happy, c'mon. Let's go get Lucy back."

"Aye Sir!"

Natsu continued walking before looking back down at his friend, "Hey."

Erza looked up at him as he smiled and pointed his finger and thumb upward, "I'll see you back with the others, okay?"

Erza smiled and nodded before returning the gesture. Natsu and Happy charged up the stairs and left the armor clad woman by herself. She continued to take deep, filling breaths as she attempted to get her strength back for the second round of fighting.

Truth be told, she didn't feel like she was ready to try and take the fighting to a Wizard Saint that had enough power to spare creating an entire army to fight everyone in her guild.

But she had to do it.

This is what Master Makarov would do.

This is what Naruto would do.

This is what she needed to do to help everyone.

"Erza!"

Erza sat up and looked back to see Mira, Gray, and Elfman run into the hallway in a hasty manner. Erza stood back up slowly and smiled, "Mira! You're okay! And Elfman! Gray!"

Mira came running up to her and worryingly looked over her tired and injured form, "What happened to you?! You look exhausted!"

"I've been doing my best to handle the Shades out there with everyone else but they're almost infinite. They won't stop. Then I noticed the magic circle was slowing down almost to a halt so I came in here to see what was happening."

"Well I'm glad you're here." Gray said while looking around the hallway, "We have to beat the last guy from the Elemental Four and we'll stop the magic circle all together. We sensed his magic from somewhere around here so we..." Gray looked around and saw the debris around them, "Came to take him down."

"No need." Erza ran a hand through her hair, "I came to help Natsu and Happy and took care of him myself."

Elfman looked around for any signs of a body before raising an eyebrow, "Where is he?"

"See that hole over there." They looked over at the hole in the middle of the floor. Erza smiled mischievously, "He's somewhere down there...learning his lesson."

Mira sighed in relief, "Oh thank goodness."

Gray and Elfman just sweated nervously at her playful, offhand remark about putting an immensely powerful Mage through the ground so quickly. Gray just coughed into his hand, "So-um-where's Natsu and Happy?"

"I sent them ahead...they're going to go get Lucy back."

Their eyes all fell in shame that their friend was finally caught despite their best efforts. Gray just took a deep breath and prayed that Natsu get there in time to help her. If she sent him on ahead and was staying back, "So what were you planning to do then?"

Erza gripped the back sword tightly before narrowing her eyes, "I'm going to go find Jose...and end this."

The others were surprised but what she said, but not enough that it showed on their faces. Gray nodded, "Yeah, guess we had the same thought."

Mira lowered her eyes, "This war can't end until we make him stop this."

Elfman shook his head, "So we're basically saying we need to beat a Wizard Saint and then we get to go home and rest."

Erza tiredly shrugged her shoulder, "I didn't say it would be easy."

"Oh really~?"

Their eyes widened in shock as they heard the new, confident voice that was followed by a wave of sickeningly cold magic power. They all looked to the side as a black miasma started to seep into the room through an empty doorway. The familiar voice continued, "Because all this boasting and gallivanting, ambushing my guild and then attacking the members of my elite team. Wrecking my guild...and humiliating the name of Phantom Lord. And now, beaten and half-dead, you say you're going to beat me so easily."

Jose finally walked out of the shadow of the doorway, dressed out of his ridiculous, stereotype wizard outfit and into something far sleek and ready for battle. The Fairies took a step back, Elfman covering Mira while Gray and Erza got ready in their battle stance while his immense magic rolled over them.

Jose cracked his neck before smirking, "So tell me...how should I discipline you little ingrates about the mistakes you've made today?"

########Hunter########

"Attack! Quickly! Don't let up!"

"Someone grab Macao! His wound reopened!"

"I'm fine! Concentrate on the Shades!"

"Loke! Concentrate your attacks on the side!"

"Right!"

Lisanna was panting heavily as her vision started to constrict and darken. She rubbed her eyes and shook her head as too make sure she didn't black out after all the fighting. She needed to stay aware.

A group of three Shades started soaring at her and she yelled as she started fighting them off. She kicked on out of existence before jumping up and striking another one in the face but leaving herself open to one phasing through her chest and causing a cold sensation to go over her limbs. Lisanna gasped and fell to the ground holding her chest as a group of Shades started swarming to her. She gritted her teeth and prepared to counter...

But they stopped.

They all stopped.

All of the ghostly figures across the battlefield suddenly froze in place for just a moment as the Fairy Mages looked around in shock.

Lisanna was just silent before she heard the sound of footsteps creeping up behind her. She looked to her left as Naruto slowly staggered up to her side, his arms swaying back and forth and his eyes shadowed by hair. She smiled and almost felt tears come to her eyes, "N-Naruto! O-oh thank god you're okay!"

Naruto paid her no mind and slowly started walking forward. Lisanna tried to stand up but couldn't so she reached out to grab his hand, "Naruto wait, you're still injured, you can't-"

But Lisanna felt something run through every fiber of her being and she jetted back and away from his hand. She didn't know why but she...she didn't want to touch him.

Naruto leaned his head back a little until it looked like he was about to fall over before he dropped his knees and pounced forward and impossible speeds, creating a crater that blew Lisanna and the Shades back with the force of his movements. He continued charging across the battlefield, unhindered by the looks of his comrades or the positions of his enemies as he ran to his only point of focus.

The Phantom guild.

########Hunter########

Gajeel was walking around impatiently in the room at the tallest point in the guild. His arms were crossed and he had an annoyed scowl on his face as he was left with the babysitting duty while Jose went out to clean up the trash. One of the weaker guys in charge of maintaining the guild's mechanical system hesitantly walked up to Gajeel and tried to calm him down, "U-um, Gajeel-San, there's no reason to feel so angry. Jose-sama is out there finishing the rest of those miserable Fairy scum off once and for all." He pointed over at the wall where Lucy was sitting against the wall with her eyes out of sight, "We just have to sit back and guard the target and we-"

*THWACK*

The others flinched in fear as Gajeel just waved his fist back and knocked the subordinate across the room and into the wall with the back of his fist. He growled through his teeth and looked at the rest of them, "Do. Not. Try to comfort me you prick. I know that Master Jose is gonna finish off the rest of these jackasses! I'm angry because I'm just up here guarding this little bimbo with a bunch of weak fuckers just staring at me! So unless you want to end up like that moron over there...just shut up and stay out of my way."

The other Phantom Mages stepped back in fear as they decided to give Gajeel the wide area of space he wanted.

"Do...you feel anxious?"

Gajeel's ears perked up before he looked over at the defeated, almost unconscious blonde sitting against the wall. He scoffed, "What was that?"

"That sense...of anxiousness in the air..." Lucy lifted her head and looked over at him, "I'm asking if you can feel it."

"'Sense of anxiousness'? Pfft." Gajeel opened his arms wide and looked around at their surroundings, "I'm sorry but where exactly are you getting that idea? In case you haven't noticed yet, we've won. We kicked your asses, crippled your master, and caught the runaway little brat we were asked to catch. And after today there probably won't be any Fairy Tail left. I'd call that a win."

Lucy was silent for a moment before a small laugh started slipping out of her mouth. Gajeel's grin started to fade as Lucy looked up again, "Most of your guild is gone. Your magic circle was stopped. Your tops Mages were beaten. Even your Wizard Saint Master decided to go out and fight because we were just too rowdy for the rest of you to handle." Lucy sat up and gave a weak but cheeky smile, "It sure sounds like the fights still going on."

Gajeel just narrowed his eyes, "If you don't shut yer mouth, I'm gonna have to shut it for you."

"G-Gajeel-San, you can't-"

"Shut up. We'll just say she was trying to escape and we had to apprehend her."

"But Jose-sama-"

"Master Jose can't tell me what to do if a little bitch is talking shit about the guild."

"He doesn't tell you what to do?" Lucy asked as she sat up, gasping at the pain in her ribs before smiling again, "So you're up here, watching over a beaten, weak little girl, by your own choice?" Lucy saw the scowl on Gajeel's face before she landed the last hit on the nail...

"I guess you really are scared, right?"

Gajeel just narrowed his eyes. He stood up straight before walking over to her as his hands turned into metal. He slammed them together with a resounding thud before he spat out, "See...this is what happens when you don't shut up."

Lucy had a small smile on her face at finally being able to break someone's composure. Maybe if the others back at the guild knew she could trash-talk now, they'd be a little happier that she was keeping the Fairy Tail spirit strong.

Gajeel was taking another step towards her but then the ground beneath him exploded in a spray of fire, debris and dust. He covered his eyes to keep the debris out of his eyes before he gasped and buckled over. He looked down to see a fist shrouded in fire shoved into his gut and he looked up to see the whites of Natsu's eyes glaring into him.

"WRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Gajeel was blast across the room and into the opposite wall with the force of a rocket as Natsu landed on the ground, smoking and covered in fire. Lucy looked up at him with tears of joy filling her eyes, "N-Natsu!"

"Lucy!" Happy screamed while flying into her chest to hug her, "We were so worried!"

"Happy." Lucy smiled lightly before rubbing his head, "It's okay, and I'm fine. I'm just glad you guys are okay." Lucy looked up at Natsu's back, "Natsu-"

"HehehehehKAKAKAKAKAKA!" They flinched when they heard Gajeel's cackle emanate across the room as he moved debris and his subordinates off of him. He spit up some blood before grinning menacingly, "This is fucking fantastic! And here I was worried that I wasn't gonna get to have any fun today! Glad you came up to entertain me Salamander!"

"..."

He didn't get an answer as Natsu just stared down at his hands, "Hmm, I guess Erza was right."

Flames started blasting off his body as the room's temperature shot up at least a dozen degrees with the fire coming off his body. Natsu gripped his fists before gritting his teeth, "It feels...so much better...getting the chance to finally aim this anger at someone who can take it!"

Natsu lowered his knees before the flames increased in intensity, "You better grit those teeth Black Steel...after today, someone needs to teach you...NOT TO FUCK WITH FAIRY TAIL!"

########Hunter########

"GAH!"

"AHHHH!"

Gray and Elfman were blasted across the room after two blasts of concentrated Dark magic at unbelievable speeds barreled through their chests. They rolled on the floor gasping for air as Mira came running to their sides to help, "Gray! Elfman!"

"WRAH!" Erza came flying at Jose with her Black Wing Armor to give her extra strength and mobility as she attempted to attack his blind spot. But he covered his hand in a black light and blocked the Kokuryū with a wave of his hand. Erza was surprised by his simple defense before she spun and landed on the ground before swinging the blade to take out his legs.

But she missed when he jumped over it and grinned evilly before pointing a finger at her face. Her eyes widened and she barely dodged as a blast of magic shot out of his finger and decimated the ground behind her. She then braced herself and pushed off the ground as he fired blasts of magic across the room to catch her, blasting the walls and pillars apart like sheet paper. He cackled, "Excellent! Simply spectacular! You're tired and ragged and yet you evade my attacks with such skill and grace! Makarov chose well when he picked his S-Class children! Possibly the only accomplishment he's ever made!"

"Don't you dare mock him like that!" Erza came down on him with her blade but he just stepped to the side like a blur before kicking her away with tremendous force. She jumped up to the ceiling before kicking off it for an extra boost of speed, "He's a better man than you could ever be!"

"Oh, of course he is." Jose jumped back as Erza landed and waved his hand to create of whip of black energy, "Which must be why I'm still standing and he's somewhere barely able to breathe!"

"AH!" Erza was knocked back with the powerful crack of the whip and she rolled on the ground the next the rest of her team. Jose didn't waste a moment as he gathered a massive amount of magic and grinned before he started blowing them and everything around them up in a ball of black fire and smoke.

Jose smirked as he started walking to the cloud of smoking, kicking massive chunks of debris out of the way like they were just pebbles. He walked to the edge of the cloud before swiping his hand and dispersing the smoke away to see Gray, Elfman, and Erza all lying down unconscious in the aftermath of his attack.

Jose walked up to Erza's unmoving form and smiled at his victory, not that it was unexpected but that he got to finally shut the mouths of some unruly, rude little brats. He fixed his collar, "I'm sure one day you might be able to improve your strength and stand up here with the best of us...and then you'll be able to emphasize how it feels to see children wave their fists so petulantly and call themselves Mages...but until then you should learn your place. And stay on the ground."

"Hehe."

Jose raised an eyebrow as he saw Erza's shoulders shake as quiet giggles came from her. He was about to question her before her whole body glowed in a bright light before she transformed back into Mirajane. The barmaid smiled, "I guess even you will let your guard down while blasting, won't you?"

Jose looked down to see his feet had been frozen into place while Gray created a pair of ice gauntlets to cover Elfman's monster arms. His massive form jumped over Mira's body and tackled the man with a mighty Roark forcing him back and down the hallway until the came to a sudden stop.

Elfman looked down to see Jose holding him back with two hands before tensing them and breaking them apart with his grip. He yelled and punched Elfman back and down the hall until...

*Schwip*

Jose jumped back and skid across the ground before slowly looking down at his chest. He gently touched the gash that ran over his coat and started to seep a steady amount of blood through the cut. He looked at his own blood before looking up at seeing Erza standing there with her sword outstretched and its tip dripping with blood. She stood back up, panting lightly with sweat down her face, and aimed the sword at him once again.

"Well, I suppose I was wrong..." Jose let his magic flare and almost growl out with anger, "I'm not even close to finishing with you children quite yet."

The Fairies struggled to stand up and prepared to continue their fight with Jose...

Until he stopped and blinked in surprise at what he saw.

A shadow grew and covered behind them as it stood in the way of their only source of naturally light.

They all looked back to see that standing in a hole in the hallway that was made during their fight was Naruto, ragged and still bloody but standing on his feet.

Gray, Elfman, Mira, and Erza all looked at him in shock before they all smiled. Gray laughed, "About time you got up!"

"Yeah!" Elfman grinned and pumped his fist, "A true man doesn't waste any time before running back into battle!"

Mira had tears welling up in her eyes before she smiled, happy to see her friend was good enough to move, "Thank god."

Erza felt a wave of relief wash over her and wanted to run up to her side...before she got a good look at him and felt...anxious.

"Hehehe, I'll say it again, Makarov truly did have a talent for picking the best of his children. You took the brunt of the Jupiter blast and yet here you are, ready to continue the fight." Jose rolled his shoulder, "You deserve praise."

"I..."

They stopped and listened as Naruto slowly started to speak, "I...could hear it...I...could feel it. People screaming. People suffering. The...smell...of blood and fire and smoke. I felt darkness and fear spread everywhere around us. I knew it was war and it felt...so..."

"Nostalgic."

Their eyes widened when Naruto looked up and smiled at them, revealing his sharpened teeth, rough whiskers, and how his bright blue eye had changed into a deep red one instead. Naruto placed a hand over his eyes as his shoulders started to shake, "Kehehehehehehehehehehehehehe..."

The members of his guild look at him with confusion and fear as he chuckled with a dark edge to his voice. Erza shook her head, "No...please don't-"

"Hahahahaha." Naruto cackled as he leaned his head back and took a moment to breathe. He sighed, "I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude. It's just...it's been so long...so long since I've been comfortable like this. For years I've been lying...lying to myself...telling myself that I didn't want this. That I didn't want to fight in war again. But I haven't been so free...so unrestricted in my life!" He threw his arms out and more shards of his metal arms started to break off and fall to the ground.

Jose shook his head at the strange attitude of the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage. He questioned, "I suppose you have sustained more damages than what was expected from the blast, 'Hunter Naruto Uzumaki'."

Naruto head fell back down and he looked at Jose before grinning, "There he is! The man of the hour! The guy who made this all a possibility!" Naruto's arms fell back to his sides and he seemed on edge while laughing, "I owe you! For finally letting me come back out! For giving me the chance to stop being weak and kind and controlled and civil! I've been playing that mask for too long! But now...hehehehehehehee...I'm out." Naruto looked to his left before gripping his fist and whipping it down, dislodging the last of his former prosthetic and letting the fresh air run off his arm, "For such a nice service...I'll give you the honor of getting me back into the game...so..."

They all looked at him in fear as he raised his arm and showed it to them all, revealing the fox-like, sharp-nailed limb that had been sealed away for almost a decade. Naruto gathered his chakra around him and created a vortex of wind to surround him, overwhelming them with his vile, almost chilling presence as he just stared at Jose. His face darkened until only his brown and red eyes and toothy grin were visible to them.

"Shall you be my new kill?"

########Hunter########

Done

FINALLY!

Been waiting two years to get to that point! No, two-and-a-half, considering all the time I put into thinking this story up before I started writing!

Ughhhhh...have you guys missed me? Because I have missed you! Not gonna take another few months for the next chapter, promise! I'm just considering what I'm gonna write for the annual April Month Long Special Deal!

Oh well. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Now, I know a few of you were expecting a big fight chapter. Don't worry.

That comes next.

First things first, I promised I was gonna write my RWBY chapter next and I gotta hop over there and fix it up for those loyal readers.

I'll see you guys real soon.

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Thank You and Bye