Chapter 4: What Now?
Phantom Guild Hall: Magnolia
"Enjoy the last fifteen minutes of your life Fairy brats!" Yelled Jose through the magic loudspeaker. "Sir I suggest you calm down before I am forced to step in." Warns Cain as he stands behind the master of Phantom Lord. "Are you threatening me, Cain?" Growled Jose. "No," he replied. "I am stating a fact. The reason I joined your guild is because it fits my agenda." Cain said as he turned around to leave, "You going on a personal vendetta will however, cause all kinds of problems that will get in my way."
Later
"I tell him to watch himself and he goes and activates Abyss Break, the stupid git." Thought Cain as he requipped a bigger cup and half-filled it with his liquor before taking a sip. "Well since Totomaru is out of the fight as well as the Jupiter Cannon, I'll give Fairy Tail time to clear this thing up before I step in." He thought as he walked to an outer platform outside the walking guild hall. As he looked out he saw the guild's massive arm gripping a young white-haired girl as Jose's voice from the loudspeaker threatened to crush her to death. "...The stupid git" Thought Cain with an irritated sigh, "Better stop the activation of Abyss Break. Better start with Juvia, if I remember correctly she's on the roof." Cain thought as he looked up. What he didn't expect to see is Juvia herself falling off the roof towards him. Next thing he knew he was face down into the floor and a weight on his back.
"Hm?" Juvia was confused. When she was defeated by that ice mage and fell off the edge, she did not expect her fall to be broken so soon. She looked down to check what had saved her from death and was surprised to see her beloved flat face down on the floor of the outdoor platform. "Hey!" Yelled a voice. She looked up and saw the ice mage that defeated her looking down over the edge. "Are you okay?" He called. "Yes, Juvia is okay!" She yelled back. "Thank god!" He said relieved as he withdrew away from the edge.
"*grunt*" muffled Cain as he tried to breathe while face down. "Cain-sama!" Exclaimed Juvia as she got off him and tightly hugged him. "You saved Juvia! Juvia loves you so much!" She said with hearts in her eyes not even realizing that he was there purely by chance.
Cain, still disoriented by his sudden greeting to the floor is confused to why the ground suddenly felt very soft when reaching around to investigate, he did not expect the ground to softly moan and say, "Ah~ Cain-sama, you're so bold~" Cain froze, recalling his many previous experiences with women and slowly put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. "Juvia," he said, "Go to Gajeel and grab Bose and Sue. Get off the guild. I have some business to attend to."
Later
When Cain entered the main hall, he wasn't surprised to see a couple of Fairy Tail mages beaten down by Jose, despite his low respect for him as it fell even lower. What he was slightly surprised to see is the Salamander and Scarlet still standing. Seeing as they're about to charge back in again, he requipped his sword and threw it so that it lands blade down into the ground in front of them stopping the mages in their tracks.
Fairy Tail
"You," said Erza in surprise. What surprised her more was that Natsu had the same reaction. "Hey! You're the guy that let me and Lucy go!" They were interrupted by a menacing growl from Jose. "Cain, what is the meaning of this?" Cain turned and glared at Jose with an equally menacing red glare from his eye. "You have completely overstepped your boundaries with your obsession and personal grudge against a rival guild." He quietly growled in return. "If you do not cease and desist, I will take you down. And if I do not stop you, the Magic counsel will in order to investigate these serious breaches of conduct and will either disband your guild or label it as a dark guild. Either way you will be taken down."
"ENOUGH!" Yelled Jose, "IF YOU DON'T STAND WITH ME, I'LL TAKE YOU DOWN FIRST THEN MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THESE DAMN FAIRIES!" And to prove his conviction he increased his magic power and released a swarm of dark shades ready to cut him to pieces with their ethereal swords.
"NO!" Shouted Erza as she tried to move. To save Cain from being chopped to bits. What stopped her was a bunch of bright lances coming from behind her and cutting through the front wave of shades into wisps of black smoke. "What!?" She exclaimed as she, Natsu, and Jose looked towards the source of the bright lances. Behind Erza and Natsu, half a dozen ghostly figures stood, magic rifles aimed at the rest of the shades who stood there because of Jose's surprise causing him to falter in his control of the shades.
A magic circle appeared next to Cain's ear. "Hm?" Whatever was said through the circle, it caused him so slightly smirk. He waved his hand in front of him and a magic screen appeared with large video grid. "Jose" called Cain, "These are all the security feeds from all subordinate guilds you control." Jose's eyes widened. In each of the feeds it showed a completely wrecked guild hall. One of the videos showed the last standing guild but it was being assaulted by a masked robed figure with multiple magic staffs. Cain waved his hand again making the feeds disappear and spoke into the magic circle by his ear. After he deactivated the circle, wisps of golden light flew into the guild from outside and into him. He then snapped his fingers. The golden figures behind him fired their guns eradicating the rest of Jose's shades. "Surrender Jose." Said Cain, "All Phantom Lord guild members are down, all subordinate guilds are destroyed, and I have my men providing aid to the Fairy Tail mages at their guild and you are the only mem- hm?"
Fairy Tail Guild: Magnolia
"Who are these guys?" Shouted a Fairy Tail mage as he was saved by a golden figure as it shot the shade that was about to attack him from behind. Throughout the battlefield there are two dozen of the golden figures shooting down shades or helping up wounded mages. Even though they were outnumbered by the mages by 3 or 4 times, they were cleaning out the shades faster than Fairy Tail has been doing. Half a dozen of them focused on the giant that destroyed the guild hall and is slowly dissipating it to black smoke.
"I don't know" replied Cana as she threw a card that dissipated a shade, "But they're saving the guild and we're winning!" "Yes we are." Said a familiar voice. "Master!" Exclaimed Cana. "I'm proud of you my children, please keep fighting Jose's shades. I'm going to have words with the stupid bastard."
Phantom Guild: Main Hall
"Actually, Someone is coming." Said Cain, "He'll want to deal with you." He snapped his fingers again and the gold figures dissipated, golden wisps returning to Cain as he walked away just as small figure flew in and landed right where he was before.
"Master/Gramps!" Exclaimed Erza and Natsu. "Help the others up and get out of here," ordered Makarov as he faced Jose. "GO!" He shouted. "Yes master." Said Erza. "Natsu," she said, "I have Gray and Mira, help Elfman," She ordered. "Gotcha" he replied.
"So Makarov," sneered Jose, "It's been six years since we stood like this. Who would've thought that Fairy Tail would grow so much in that amount of time? Anyways, it's just a pile of rubble now." he scoffed. "A guild is not a physical building!" Growled Makarov as he began to increase his magic power, "It is the summation of its members!" "Still," said Jose as he began to raise his power as well, "It makes me happy. Now we can decide who is the strongest of the wizard saints."
Fairy Tail
"This magic power…" Said Alzack as he shot a shade with his pistol. "No doubt about it," said Cana, "It's master! C'mon guys! The master's up there fighting! We've got a chance! And let's show up these glowy guys who can take out more of these shades!"
Phantom Lord: Main Hall
"Impressive," said Makarov, "So much power at a young age. You at least have earned your place as a wizard saint." The main hall is wrecked. Walls had holes blown through, parts of the ceiling was caved in, and both opponents were sporting bruises and cuts. "Had you used that power for good rather than for your personal obsession, this world would have benefited." "Are you lecturing me, old man?" Said Jose. Instead of answering, Makarov began gathering magic power into his hands. "As is traditional of Fairy Tail justice, you have until the count of three." He said as he began to grow in size, "Kneel."
"Hm?" Said Jose confused.
"One."
"Hahaha!" Laughed Jose incredulously, "Kneel? You must be spouting nonsense!"
"Two."
Jose continued laughing, "Acknowledge you that you're better!? Acknowledge that Fairy Tail is stronger than my guild!? I'm your match! No! I'm stronger! You should kneel before me! Now die! Crumble to du-" *bam!*
"Wha-?" Said a surprised Jose as he was slammed face down on the ground with his hands behind his back. Cain had returned and pushed him down and was in the process of cuffing him with anti-magic cuffs. "What are you doing to your own master boy?" Asked Makarov as he deactivated his spell and shrunk down to his normal size. "Cain," growled Jose, "You damn traitor." "The military is on the way." Said Cain, "It'll be more of a political hassle if you use one of your strongest spells old man." He said to Makarov, "I suggest you take him with you and check on your fellow mages." He then shoved Jose to Makarov.
"What about you boy?" Asked Makarov, "Where will you go?" "I'm going to lay low." Cain replied, "This git put a wrench in my agenda because of his vendetta and jealousy. Oh right." Cain snapped his fingers and wisps of gold came in from outside and became absorbed by him.
Fairy Tail
"Look! All of the shades!" Said Nab as he helped up a fellow mage. All of the shades suddenly stopped and evaporated. "It's master! He did it!" "Guys! Erza and the others are back!" Yelled another mage.
"Erza! Are you ok?" Asked Cana as she worriedly ran over to her with a couple of other mages. "Yeah I'm fine," replied Erza, "Help the others. They're worse." "Those ghosts!" Yelled Alzack, "They're disappearing!" Everyone looked and saw the golden figures dissipate into wisps and fly back towards the wrecked Phantom Lord guild. "Man whoever summoned those guys saved our butts back there." "Cain," thought Erza as she smiled towards the Phantom guild, "Thank you. You saved my family." "Hm? Erza what's wrong?" Asked Cana as she helped Gray up. "No, nothing." Smiled Erza as she turned away and back towards her comrades. "By the way" asked Lucy, "Where's Natsu?" "Aye!" Replied Happy, "He said he has some loose ends to take care of."
Phantom Lord: Main Hall
"That magic," said Makarov in slight surprise, "You helped my children?" "I prevented a tragedy and the destruction of one of the strongest guilds in Fiore. Nothing more." Said Cain as he started walking away, "I want you to tell Scarlet that when you see her again." "You know Erza?" Asked Makarov in surprise. Cain paused, but instead of answering, "I may be coming in for a visit. Maybe your guild can help me with my goal." He said as he exited the main hall."
Later: Outside the Guild
"Hey, you think he's all right?" Asked Boze, "Despite how strong he is, those Fairy Tail dudes are pretty strong too." Boze, Sue, and Juvia were on the outskirts of Magnolia after they managed to get off the now wrecked guild. "C'mon, we gotta go. The Magic Council will most likely send guys here to check on this mess."
"I concur." said Cain suddenly startling the others with his quiet entrance. "CAIN-SAMAAA!" cried Juvia in relief as she tried to jump on him. "The Magic Council has sent mages to investigate. There are already mages in the guild. Gajeel and Totomary managed to recover and escape. Jose, Sol, and Aria are under arrest for their actions against Fairy Tail. I wouldn't be surprised that the Council would have Phantom Lord disbanded because of Jose's actions." Cain explained while he held Juvia away from him with a straight face as Juvia continued trying to embrace him. Susie and Boze sweatdropped as they listened to Cain's briefing.
"Well what about Fairy Tail?" asked Susie, they retaliated and was also part of the all out brawl here and back where they attacked our guild hall." "There are Council mages as well," replied Cain as he put down Juvia once she calmed down, "They're covering all angles of the situation and are questioning each one of Fairy Tail's members."
"So what do we do now?" asked Boze. "We leave," said Cain, "Our best course of action is to lay low until this all dies down. Besides, because of the mess Jose caused, I need to restock my supply of liquor." he said, irritated while requipping his last bottle of liquor and began drinking. "The hell!?" shouted Boze as he, Susie, and even Juvia sweatdropped watching him, "Did you drink it all while we were waiting for you down here!?" "Yes," snapped Cain with an irritated look on his face. "Your damn master stressed me out so much I ended up drinking way too many bottles. That's beside the point." Everyone else sweatdropped at Cain's less than subtle way of changing the subject.
Cain stored his now empty bottle into his inventory and requipped what seems to be four resort passes. "I nicked this off another Phantom mage while he was unconscious. He didn't seem to need them at the time and it also gives us a place to lay low for the week." Everyone sweatdropped again at Cain's nonchalant attitude towards stealing until they saw what resort those passes were for.
"Dude!" exclaimed Boze while Juvia and Susie stared wide eyed at the passes, "Those are passes to Akane Resort! I heard that place is expensive! There's no way the guy you stole those from can get those. He probably stole it from some schmuck." "Most likely the case," replied Cain, "Anyways we can lay low at the Akane Resort until this mess is done and over with." "Seriously!?" said Susie, "We're going with you to the Akane Resort!?" "CAIN-SAMA JUVIA LOVES YOU!" shouted Juvia with joy as she once again tried to jump Cain while Cain calmly holds her out away from him as Juvia tries to get closer. Boze and Susie sweatdropped at Juvia's normal display of affection towards Cain but they were more pumped about the opportunity to go to one of the most expensive and luxurious resorts in Fiore.
"Wait," paused Boze, "What about our stuff? Isn't it back in the guild?" "Don't worry," said Cain, "While I was relieving my stress I took the chance to store all of our belongings into my inventory after I had Juvia grab her's and Susie's stuff while I took care of your's and my own. We are all set. We better get moving before the Magic Council's mages run into us." "Man, you're like the best friend a mage could have. Wish we could've backed you up back on the guild instead of running away." "Don't worry," replied Cain, "You are my comrades. Now go on ahead. I'll meet you at the entrance of the resort. I have something to check up on back in Magnolia." "Be careful Cain," said Susie. "Cain-sama! Don't leave Juvia alone!" shouted Juvia. "We'll meet you at the resort then, "Confirmed Boze as he dragged Juvia along with him and Susie, "C'mon, he said he'll meet us there." he said to Juvia as she cried comical tears as she was dragged away.
Cain watched until they were out of sight before he turned around and walked back to Magnolia deep in his own thoughts. "Friend huh?" he thought, "Havn't been called that in centuries."
Phantom Arc End