Hello Everyone!

I just want to thank everyone. I've gotten more favs and follows for this story. Not only that I got some reviews as well. It means a lot to me and motivates me to try and update the story as quick as I can. SO once again thanks you guys! Now on with the story.

~wolvesfinalden

Fairy Tail: By Your Side

Chapter 6: War between Guilds

The next morning Lucy was the first one awake, along with Duke and Erza. Lucy set out some food for them all to eat and for the boys once they got up themselves. Everything seemed peaceful, like yesterday was just some bad dream.

"Do you think they did anything to the guild last night?" Lucy asked a little worried.

Erza looked up and then proceeded to shake her head.

"No I don't think they would attack us twice under the same circumstance. To be honest I'm wondering if they decided to do something else. I've just been having this bad feeling ever since yesterday." Erza told her.

"I hope not. I mean what could we have done for all of this to happen?"

"Who knows, some guilds like to start fights with other guilds. They think it shows everyone else how powerful they are. Just a way to scare others so they stay in their place. In my opinion it's just a cowardly move."

Duke left the girls for the time being to wake up the others. He noticed Gray first, who happened to be sleeping on the couch. The wolf walked over and first just tried to nudge him. When that didn't work he managed to pull on his boxers enough that he finally fell to the ground, jolting the ice mage awake.

"Jeez Duke, I'm up." Gray mumbled looking at the canine.

Once he was up the wolf moved back into Lucy's bedroom. He saw Natsu had his arm still on Lucy's side of the bed but was sprawled out over the rest of the bed. Happy had managed to make his way down a little towards the middle of the bed.

Duke tried to figure out which way would be best. He moved to Happy first just gently nudging his feline friend. Luckily the cat woke up easily and greeted the wolf.

"Morning Duke." He said.

The wolf then looked to Happy and back over to Natsu, who was still snoring away. Happy then caught on and began to smile and giggle.

"I see wake up Natsu hmm."

Duke then jumped up on the bed and made his way over to the fire mage. He tried to be nice and nudge him first, however he knew from the start that it probably wouldn't work anyway. Once the dragon-slayer didn't even move a muscle, Duke decided to take more drastic measures. Happy managed to get over to Lucy's desk and sat on her chair, so he would be out of the way.

The white wolf moved close enough to Natsu, puffed out his chest, and finally let out a loud howl. This caused the fire mage to jolt awake and fall completely off the bed to the floor. Once Duke stopped, Natsu recovered and glared a little at Duke, before he finally busted out laughing.

"Alright Duke you got me. I swear though if I'm ever up before you, you're going to get it." Natsu joked as he walked out of the room.

"I don't think that will happen anytime soon, right Duke?" Happy laughed as he started to make his way out of the room as well.

Duke nodded and followed Happy out. They found everyone else in the kitchen getting ready to head to the guild for the day. Once everyone had everything together they made their way out of the apartment. As they walked all seemed well, until someone screamed.

"What the hell was that?!" Gray and Natsu both shouted.

"Come on we have to check it out!" Erza yelled.

However Duke and Lucy were already ahead of her. Happy managed to climb on top of Duke, riding on his friend to the scene. The other three trailed close behind. Once they reached the source of the screams the ones in the lead stopped dead in their tracks. Duke let out growls and snarls as he saw what had caused the screams. While Lucy stared in shock and brought her hand up to her mouth. Happy couldn't look at the scene anymore and buried his head into Duke's neck fur.

Then Natsu and the others showed up. Erza was outraged along with Gray, while Natsu was now beyond pissed. He couldn't describe how he felt in words. This had gone way too far. There up on the big tree was team Shadow Gear and painted on Levy's stomach was the mark of the guild Phantom Lord.

"Levy." Lucy whispered as her eyes began to spill tears.

Natsu noticed this and walked over to her. The blonde felt him place a hand on her shoulder and she couldn't help but cry into him. She just couldn't handle the sight of her friends in this kind of state. After all how could anyone?

Duke's fur was all ruffled as he stared at the scene. Something had to be done about this and the wolf could only hope it was soon. This wasn't just a stupid game anymore, no this…was war.

Duke and Lucy stayed behind in the town much to their dismay, while the others in the guild were on their way over to the Phantom Lord guild. The master finally said enough was enough. He said that they had finally claimed war over them, so now they had to take action, before anyone else was hurt.

While they were gone the wolf and the celestial mage kept watch over team Shadow Gear, who was now recovering in their infirmary. Lucy would bring books and read them to Levy, just in case she could hear her. While Duke sat with her to keep her company. The two kept up this routine for the day until finally deciding to head home. Though before they took the route home Lucy remembered that they needed more food. So she went ahead and bought groceries and now the two were making their way home.

"I wish we were there with them Duke. I would feel a lot better but I guess someone has to stay back to watch over those three." Lucy sighed.

Duke nodded as he walked beside her. He was itching to get back at these jerks who dared attack his new home.

They were almost home when Duke noticed the sudden change in weather. He stopped in front of Lucy, so she wouldn't go any further without him. Lucy noticed and tried to find the source of the weird weather change. It wasn't until she heard Duke's growls that she saw two people walking towards her. It was a man and a woman but it was the woman that caught her attention. She seemed a little strange and was oddly prepared for the weather change, which was now pouring down rain on them.

Duke didn't like how they felt as they approached. He felt hostility from them as they approached and noticed that they had powerful magic as well.

"Drip, Drop" The woman with blue hair said as she walked to them.

The wolf just growled as she approached not moving from Lucy.

"My what a strange wolf. I bet even you despise the rain and the water. Drip, Drop." She said as she approached.

"What do you want?" Lucy asked.

"Why simple girly we want you." The man replied.

"What? Why me?" she asked.

"Master's orders." He replied.

Duke growled even louder, now showing his fangs to the strangers. No way in hell were these people going to take away his master. How dare they even try!

"How about you shut them both up Juvia." The man barked.

"Drip, Drop." She replied

Then out of nowhere a sphere of water encircled the two. It then began to lift off the ground. Duke started to panic a little, remembering that he couldn't swim. While Lucy was scrambling to try and get to Aquarius's key before it was too late. However the more they tried to fight the harder it became for them to move.

"I control the water. Drip, Drop." Juvia said as she made the sphere tighter.

'No. This can't happen. Duke can't swim and I'm losing my strength. If only I can reach Aquarius's key. Then hopefully we'll be out of this horrible mess.' Lucy thought.

Duke tried to activate his magical power but was finding it a little useless. He was too focused on trying to breathe. He feared that Lucy would soon lose consciousness and along with him. He felt more magical power coming from the water mage and started to feel exhausted. He looked back to Lucy and noticed that she had dropped her keys. They were now on the ground beside the grocery bag she dropped. The next thing he noticed was now the blonde was completely unconscious. Duke tried to wake her up but he didn't have a lot of energy left either. Soon all the wolf could see was the blackness engulfing him.

Natsu and the others made it over to the Phantom Lord guild and busted down the wall. They managed to start an all out brawl with the members. Natsu didn't care who got in his way, he was so angry, so upset that it just didn't matter anymore. He was just glad that Lucy was home safe with Duke and he didn't have to worry about them. At least that's what he had thought.

The master had made his way up the stairs to find their master. Leaving the rest of the guild for Erza to handle. When he got to the room he meet his old enemy. He sat in a chair waiting for him and happily greeted him. While Makarov just pounded his fists in anger. How dare he take advantage of his children like this! How dare he sit there and act so smug. Though something else bothered the Master as he looked at the Phantom Lord master. Something didn't add up here, no he had to have something else up his sleeve.

Makarov was about to ask him what else he had done. However he was answered when an image of a certain blonde showed up on the ground below the Phantom Lord master's feet.

"Lucy!" The master said in surprise.

Duke woke up in a matter of minutes. He smelled small traces of the two strangers with Lucy. Sadly the rain washed away most of their scent, making it difficult to track them. Though Duke wouldn't dare let that stop him from finding Lucy. Not when she needed him.

The white wolf then decided to follow the scent the guild left behind. Believing that they might have taken her to the same area the guild had went. Duke didn't take long to reach the guild. When he got there he still couldn't find a fresh scent of the two strangers. The only scents he found were stale. Duke quickly ran inside and saw the huge brawl going on.

The canine tried to scan the area for any sign of Lucy. When he couldn't find one he was going to turn around and head out, until he heard a huge crash. This caused the wolf to shift his attention to the now creator in the floor. He saw as the guild members tried to make out exactly who it was. Though it was Erza who had answered the wolf's question.

"Master!" she screamed as she ran to him.

"Gramps." Natsu said in a loud whisper.

Duke noticed Natsu and tried to make his way over to him. Hoping that the dragon-slayer might have seen where they had taken Lucy.

The wolf heard the master mumble about his magic power being gone, and even as a wolf he knew that it wasn't a good sign. That's when Duke heard a darker voice. He mentioned his master's name and he looked up to the ceiling boards of the guild hall. There he found two men but the one he focused on had iron piercings and red eyes, with black hair.

Duke took no time to begin growling and let out a terrifying bark. Which drew everyone's attention. The wolf had looked something like a demon the way he glared up at the iron mage. That's when Natsu walked over to Duke, remembering hearing what Gajeel had said. He looked up and began to yell.

"GAJEEL!"

"We'll have to do this again Salamander." He said before disappearing with the other man.

The wolf glared as he lost his last trace of where his master might be. He then noticed that Natsu had finally turned to him with concerned eyes. While Happy managed to show up beside Duke looking a little worried himself.

"Duke, why are you here? Where's Lucy?" he asked in a worried tone.

Duke looked back up to the spot where Gajeel was and proceeded to growl. Then he looked down in shame, feeling that he had failed Lucy.

"They took her didn't they? That's what he was talking about." Natsu said now a little angry.

Duke nodded as he looked back up into the fire mage's eyes. Happy then patted Dukes side as he looked back to Natsu.

"Come on you two. Where going to get her back." Natsu said marching out of the guild.

They noticed that their guild had retreated but still kept pushing forward. Duke sniffed around trying to catch her scent but he wasn't having any luck. Natsu as beginning to worry himself as he tried the same thing as Duke, trying to pick up the blonde's scent. Duke was beginning to pick up his pace as the other two followed quickly behind. Natsu started to smell faint traces of Lucy's scent.

The wolf was now sprinting over to the tower now in view. Duke could tell for sure that she was there. He then let out a howl as he ran, trying to give his master some assurance that they were close by.

Meanwhile Lucy and the master of Phantom Lord were in the middle of a talk. The master had been paid to take Lucy back home and allowed to use whatever force necessary. The blonde didn't know what he wanted now, he had never cared in the past but remembering the phone call, she was now as desperate as ever to get out of there. No way in hell was she going back. Not if it meant Duke's life.

When she managed to reach the doorway in the cell, she looked down and noticed that they were way too high up for her to simply jump down. If she did now she'd die for sure. That is until she heard a voice in the wind. Her eyes widened as she listened, the howl was all too familiar. She then turned around the face him again.

"You're not going to get away with this you know. It will just be a matter of time before you are finally with your dear father again." He said to her.

"No. Never again." She whispered.

Lucy then let herself fall backwards, flying down towards the ground. Sure it may have seemed rash but not when she was so sure she would be fine.

'I heard them. I heard you both in the distance. Your both here aren't you. All of you.' She thought as she fell.

"Natsu! Duke!"

A howl once again echoed in response.

"Lucy!" Natsu yelled out again.

Duke and Natsu both accelerated their speed as they saw her fall. Duke kept up with Natsu easily but he knew the dragon slayer would have a better shot at catching her than himself. The wolf then got behind the fire mage and pushed him forward as he was about to jump up, giving him an extra boost towards her.

Natsu caught her just seconds before she hit the ground. The two then landed into a broken brick wall, with Lucy on top and Natsu on the bottom. Duke and Happy both hurried over to them as they inspected the two making sure they were alright.

Duke noticed the binds that Lucy had on her wrists and used his teeth to break the rope. Lucy then hugged her wolf and thanked him. She turned to Natsu and Happy and thanked them as well. Then she turned her face away from them.

The wolf looked at her in worry and walked over to her front to get a better look at her face. He saw she had some tears in her eyes. He then walked up close to her face and licked away her tears.

"Duke it's all my fault. The reason why everyone was getting hurt, why Phantom Lord attacked the guild. It's all because of me." She said as she hugged him around his neck once more.

Natsu heard her words and walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. This caused Lucy to pull away from Duke, to look at him. His eyes showed concern as he looked at her.

"Lucy how is this your fault? You didn't do anything wrong." He said.

She then put her head down a little but Natsu caught her and held up her chin so she would look at him.

"Natsu, remember what I told you about my father?"

The fire mage nodded as he remembered the horrible man.

"He's the one who paid them to kidnap me. He told them to do whatever they needed in order to get me."

Natsu's eyes widened as he heard her words.

"Lucy, it's not your fault that he did that. You had nothing to do with it. Your part of Fairy Tail now, it's not just yours and Duke's fight anymore. We are all family here and whether you like it or not we're always going to back you up." Natsu said to her.

Lucy then looked at Natsu and sighed. She knew his words were true but there was another way she could put a stop to this. However just the thought made her upset and unhappy. Sure it was selfish to feel this way, but who in their right mind would want to go back to a man like that?

"There is another way to make this all stop though." Lucy said in a sad tone.

"What did you have in mind?" Natsu asked her.

"Duke and I could return home."

Happy and Natsu looked shocked her answer. There was no way she would want to go back there. Then Natsu felt something in his chest as he realized what her going home would mean. The dragon-slayer then got a determined look on his face as he took Lucy's hand.

"Luce, you don't have to go home. You and Duke are going to stay here. We'll face this together and that's how it's always going to be, right Happy?"

"Aye sir!" Happy said cheerfully.

He then hugged Lucy and Happy got up on Duke's head. After a minute they were heading back home to the guild.

'This fight may have started because of Duke and myself. However we're going to be the ones that finally end this. My father isn't going to have his way this time. Never again.'

And there you go! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be out shortly! Thank you guys for reading and until next chapter!

~wolvesfinalden