I feel that enough time has past to allow me to post this much. The chapter was originally going to be longer, but we realized that, one, it would be WAY too long if we kept going and two...Last weeks chapter...Yeah. We are still going to wait a bit before we post the next chapter till the wounds of cannon heal. Hopefully you will all enjoy this.

Please leave us a review so we can have some good feedback, its greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach of fairy tail. Those belong respectively to Tite Kubo and Shounen jump and Hiro Mashima and Weekly shounen magizine. This is just for fun!

Disclaimer: As you can probably imagine I do not own the Fairy Tail or Bleach series or any of the characters that appear either. The honor of being the man behind Fairy Tail belongs to the one, the only Hiro Mashima. Oh, and Bleach's creation rests solely on the shoulders of Tite Kubo. Oh sure, I've purchased plenty of manga, DVDs, video games and maybe a few too many Rukia Kuchiki and Erza Scarlet action figures and statues (though only the Fairy Tail merchandise remains at this point), but the series themselves? Oh no, they're certainly not mine. You'd know if it were me in charge. Though to explain how different Bleach would be, well to detail that would take a higher word count than this story will eventually end with. Though oddly enough, little would actually change about Fairy Tail. Huh. Go figure.


The apartment that now belonged to Lucy Heartfilia and Bambietta Basterbine was no stranger to guests from Fairy Tail. The likes of Natsu, Gray and Erza had managed to slip in unannounced far more times than either Bambietta and Lucy could ever care to admit and Wendy was a guest as of late.

Now, however, it was the center of Fairy Tail's attention. The majority of its members were standing outside while its guild master and a select few were within. Twice now had Phantom Lord struck the guild and Makarov was weary of having the member of Shadow Gear treated at either the destroyed guild hall or Fairy Hills. There was no telling if the rival guild would strike at either location. That was precisely why Makarov was grateful that Lucy and Bambietta had offered their relatively nondescript apartment as the best place for Levy and the others to be taken care of.

Levy and Jet were resting atop the apartment's twin beds while Droy had been relegated to the sofa. Wendy Marvell was currently standing beside Levy, her magic continuing to slowly heal the battered wizard. Mirajane Strauss, meanwhile, was moving back and forth from Jet and Droy, trying to tend to them as best she could.

Standing beside Makarov were Lucy Heartfilia and Erza Scarlet, the two worried about the state of their friends even if the S-Class mage was less prone to outwardly show it. Makarov knew that Erza was hurting, yes, but he also knew she was going to stand strong and resolute in this time of need. It was precisely what he was counting on as Erza was without a doubt the strongest mage he had at his side in this war with Phantom Lord.

While Lucy looked at Levy's hurt body, clearly distraught, the other resident of the apartment was further away. Leaning up against the far wall was Bambietta Basterbine. Her arms were folded across her chest, her white cloak draped over her body and nearly obscuring it. The Quincy's head hung low slightly, the visor of her hat casting shadow over her eyes.

It was for the best Bambietta thought, the Quincy knowing that her visage was still burning with a rage she had not experienced in such a long time. She was aching to smash Phantom Lord out of existence, her body and soul demanding retribution for what had been done to Levy. The only thing that brought any satisfaction to the Quincy was that she knew it would happen soon.

"Wendy Marvell," Makarov suddenly began to say as he approached the Sky Dragon Slayer. He reached out and placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "I know you have not been in Fairy Tail for very long, and I understand that this is a trying matter for you, but... I wish to thank you for being here and helping this family."

Bambietta peeked out from underneath her hat, watching as Makarov began to move away from Wendy. He walked past the Quincy then and outside. Bambietta whispered her breath then. "Family? There he goes again..."

"Erza," Mirajane said softly as she approached both the S-Class mage and Lucy, "please do keep an eye on the master. I'm... worried."

Erza nodded and began to move away, Lucy right behind her. Yet as the two came upon Bambietta, Lucy could see how quiet she was being still. "Bambi? It's... time to go."

"Lucy, Bambi and I will join you and the others in just a moment," Erza said quietly, yet still possessing a commanding tone.

"Yes, ma'am," Lucy replied meekly, the Celestial Spirit mage knowing it was best to listen to Erza and not make her repeat herself. She stepped outside then, leaving the Quincy and the wizard by the door.

"What's the problem?" Bambietta asked with an eerily calm tone. "Let's just go already."

"Not yet," Erza said as she looked Bambietta in the eyes. "I believe we need to talk things over first."

"You heard the master," Bambietta replied. "The time for talk is over. It's war now."

"That's precisely what we need to talk about," Erza shot back, the mage growing the slightest bit irritated. She calmed herself then, knowing that such an attitude would not do. "I understand your anger, Bambietta, but I don't believe you understand Master Makarov's."

Bambietta tilted her head up to look at Erza properly. "Is that a fact?"

"Bambietta," Erza said as she cast a gaze over her shoulder and looked at Wendy and Mirajane both, "come with me for a moment."

The armored mage stepped way and moved into the kitchen of the apartment. Bambietta pulled herself away from the wall and did as Erza asked. The Quincy was still seething inside and she was having issues containing it. "Erza, I-"

The S-Class wizard was quick in interrupt Bambietta. "You came to me because you wanted to learn how to fight with your side without killing, right?"

Bambietta took a deep breath. "Yes, yes I did."

"And are you going to keep those lessons in mind," Erza asked sharply, "or has this day rendered my time wasted?"

Bambietta returned the pointed question with her own sharp tongue. "Old habits die hard."

"That's enough," Erza replied, her tone of voice a challenge, one that demanded better of Bambietta. "I will hear no such thing from a member of Fairy Tail."

Bambietta looked away for a moment, the visor of her hat once more obstructing her eyes.

"I told you before that I understand your pain when it comes to this matter," Erza continued, "but if you continue down this course of action, you'll do more harm to Fairy Tail than Phantom Lord could ever hope to."

Bambietta turned her gaze back to Erza. "I don't think Master Makarov is too worried about repercussions."

"Bambietta, you fool." Erza was growing frustrated now, Bambietta's desire for vengeance clearly clouding her rationality. "The master has grown angry enough that he will take the burden of punishment the Magic Council will place upon him for this transgression. The council members will however keep in mind the fact that Phantom Lord was the aggressor in this conflict."

Bambietta returned to being quiet, allowing Erza the time to speak.

"However," Erza continued to say, "the master simply wants to do what you spoke of after the guild hall had been destroyed. He wants to show Phantom Lord that Fairy Tail cannot be beaten down like this without repercussions. But you, Bambietta? I saw the look on your face back in the park. You want more than vengeance, don't you?"

Bambietta lower her head slightly, her shoulders drooping. "Yes."

"Bambietta," Erza said, her commanding tone shifting to that of a comforting one, "you cannot kill or maim anyone in Phantom Lord. Not even the one who hurt Levy. If you act on your impulses, if you forget everything I've taught you these last few days, then you will bring Fairy Tail down into the darkness with you. The Magic Council will imprison you. They will disband this guild. Levy, Lucy, Wendy and all the others? They will have no place to call their home. You, Bambietta Basterbine, will have taken that from them. Not Phantom Lord. You."

Bambietta's teeth grit at that accusation, the Quincy's rage beginning to rise to the surface. "That's right, Makarov's little 'family' would suffer. Erza, do know what was going through my head as I got Levy down from that damn tree?"

Erza waited for an answer in silence.

"I thought Makarov wouldn't do anything at all," Bambietta said, giving Erza just that. "And I was willing to go out on my own. Fairy Tail's reputation would be intact and only I'd suffer the consequences. Maybe I should do just that-"

"And how would that would me feel after helping give you a second chance?" Erza asked. "How would that make Lucy feel? What about Wendy?"

Bambietta tried to answer, her mouth opening but no sound escaping from it.

Erza, meanwhile, was quick to cut down to the very bone with her own voice. "And what about Levy? Would she want you to sacrifice everything you've worked for to hurt the person responsible for her pain?"

"Damn it." Bambietta took a deep breath in response. "No. No she wouldn't."

Bambietta turned away from Erza then, her cloak whirling the air as she did so. She began to walk slowly out of the kitchen, only to stop. She turned to look over her shoulder, a sad glow upon her eyes.

"Erza," she began to say, "thank you."

"Think nothing of it," Erza replied. "But you can truly thank me by curbing your... desires when we confront Phantom Lord."

"No killing, no maiming. Got it." Bambietta refrained from smirking, her dark side still hiding within. "I can work with that."

"All right then," Erza said as she approached. "However, I will be there for you in the coming battles if you feel yourself slipping. I promise you that."

Bambietta could not tell if that was meant to comfort her or simply warn her. Either way, she watched as Erza stepped by, exiting both the kitchen and apartment itself. The Quincy knew she had to go as well, but there was one last matter she had to attend to.

The Quincy stepped out into the sleeping quarters of the apartment, moving towards the bed that was her own, the one that she had bequeathed first to Wendy and now Levy. The two were there still, the Sky Dragon Slayer in the process of tending to the Solid Script mage's wounds. Bambietta gently lay a hand down on Wendy's shoulder, calling to her attention.

"Wendy, thank you again," Bambietta began to say. "I know Levy is in good hands."

The Quincy's looked down at Levy's still face, watching as she breathed softly in her slumber. Bambietta felt her anger boil once more as she took note of the faint mark on the side of the woman's face. The bulk of the damage had been healed, yes, but the scar had time still before it faded in full.

Bambietta felt a reflex overwhelming her and she quickly slid her hand away from Wendy's shoulder. The Quincy's fingers began to curl tightly into her palms, her hands shaking. Then, as soon as it had begun, it stopped. Erza's words were still in her thoughts, even now.

"Levy," Bambietta began to say as she continued to look down at her resting friend, "I'll do right by you. I promise."

Then Bambietta began to turn away and head towards the door. As she opened it however, she could hear both Wendy call out to her.

"Please, Bambi," the young girl said. "Please come back safe."

Bambietta looked at Wendy with a smile. "You've got nothing to worry about."

Then the Quincy was gone, leaving Wendy and Mirajane alone to tend to their fellow guild mates.


On the outskirts of Oak Town lay the hall that belonged to the guild known as Phantom Lord. It was a breathtaking sight, both the town itself and the guild hall. For Oak Town was built around the environment itself, all of its structures built upon the slopes of a hill. At the very top of that hill was the town's claim to fame, an ancient castle that had become home to Phantom Lord itself.

Within the stone fortress the mass of wizards were busy spending their day as most any other guild would. Some were looking for work and job requests while others simply socialized among their peers.

One wizard, however, was doing neither of the above. Totomaru of the Conflagration was sitting by himself, a mug of beer his only company. He had three friends within the guild, all of them a part of the Element Four, but the lot of them had been sent out from the guild hall upon specific instructions of Master Jose.

All Totomaru could do in their absence was sit and listen to all that was around him. It was the same as it had been yesterday, Totomaru remembering well what he had been heard over and over again not twenty-four hours earlier.

Gajeel Redfox, one of his fellow S-Class wizards, had been bragging for quite some time of his escapades within the town of Magnolia. It seemed simply childish, the nonsense of how he had destroyed Fairy Tail's guild hall. Totomaru had had little interaction with the guild, save for his time in the town of Clover, and while he did not have any particular love for Fairy Tail as a whole, neither did he have any vested desire to cause them undo harm.

Today was slightly different, however. The typical hustle and bustle of those who wore the Phantom Lord emblem was the same as always, but Gajeel himself was unnaturally quiet. The man was keeping to himself, sitting alone at a table not far away from Totomaru himself.

The fire wizard was curious. He knew full well that Master Jose was responsible for Gajeel's trip to Magnolia the day before and he also knew that the guild master had sent Gajeel back to the town again today. Yet now Gajeel was entirely quiet about whatever it was he had done this time. That was something that left Totomaru concerned.

Phantom Lord had been changing as of late. They were the biggest guild in all of Fiore, not to mention the most well respected. Fairy Tail was no much on those fronts, yet it did manage to surpass the massive guild in terms of sheer notoriety and fame. That had always vexed Master Jose, something he made quite clear to those who worked under him. However he had always managed to restrain his darker impulses, acting as professional as possible when it came to his fellow guild master, Makarov.

Once again, things had been changing. Master Jose had acted much more blatant in regards to his dislike of Fairy Tail, but that was not the most troubling thing to Totomaru. He was of the Element Four and, alongside Gajeel Redfox, they were the most powerful wizards under Master Jose. He trusted and respected their abilities. However that time seemed to have come to an end.

Totomaru could hear it, a hush falling upon the residents of the guild hall. He put down his mug and looked to the side. Sure enough he could see three figures clad in violet robes adorned with Phantom Lord's emblem upon the backs. The trio was walking slowly through the center of the hall, paying no mind to those around them.

They were the newest recruits to Phantom Lord and Master Jose had all but cast aside his faith in his S-Class wizards. These three, mysterious as they were, had been promoted to the highest rank from the moment they had arrived. Ever since that day they had been Master Jose's favored guild members, the ones he gave the most vital of missions to.

It made Totomaru sick to consider such flagrant disrespect. He had spent years working to reach the level of respect and power he had possessed, only for two random people who considered those around them unworthy of either their identities and histories.

Soon enough did the cloaked trio cross the hall, escaping out of sight as they moved up the stairway to Master Jose's office. Totomaru shook his head in disgust and took a massive gulp of the beer before him.

Phantom Lord was changing, perhaps not for the better, and Totomaru had to wonder if, or perhaps when, it would explode in right in Master Jose's face.

That was precisely when the fire mage began to wonder if fate had a specifically cruel sense of a humor, a burst of magic power suddenly ringing out. Totomaru dropped his mug in response, the very foundation around him shaking. He turned quickly in response and was greeted by a less than ideal sight.

The entrance to the guild was open. No, that was not doing it justice. The entrance had been blown apart, rubble littering the floor. And standing in what was a modest doorway were those who called Fairy Tail their home. One look was all it took for Totomaru to realize that they meant business.

There were familiar faces from Clover amongst the group, all of them appearing quite angry to Totomaru's eyes. Natsu Dragneel was to the left, the Fire Dragon Slayer standing closer than the rest, a veritable fury burning within his visage. The others were no less worrisome to behold, yet there was something about the woman Totomaru recognized as Bambietta Basterbine that left Totomaru concerned. She had been highly emotional back during the mission in clover, loud and abrasive. Yet now she was simply standing in silence, a quiet rage perhaps having taken hold of her.

"Gajeel," Totomaru whispered under his breath, "what did you do?"

The wizards from Fairy Tail suddenly began to move, the lot of them parting to the sides. Totomaru watched them as Makarov Dreyer, the master of the guild began to step forward. That was truly a sight that left Totomaru in fear.

The guild master was the polar opposite of Bambietta Basterbine, his face wearing his rage for all to see. "Phantom Lord," Makarov said as he looked at the surprised wizards, "I would have words with your master."


High atop the castle that was Phantom Lord's, Jose Porla was sitting alone in what amounted to his guild hall's office. Just as the castle was grander than any guild hall, so to was the room. It was simply the throne room of an ancient ruler, one that Jose had taken for himself. It was not a matter of him simply placing himself above others. No, the throne was simply a symbol of where Jose belonged naturally as far as he was concerned.

The older man was lost in thought, his elbows propped upon the arms of his chair. His gnarled fingers were locked with one and another, his hands before his face. All the while were Jose's eyes closed. The Wizard Saint outwardly appeared calm and stable to any who might see him, but it was a different matter if one were to look past the surface.

Jose's thoughts were erratic and consumed with a manic glee. He had always taken issue with Makarov Dreyer and his guild, the contempt for Fairy Tail having grown throughout the years. It was the only guild in Fiore that even dared to compare to Phantom Lord, in some ways surpassing it.

Still, despite his fervent dislike for Fairy Tail, Jose had always known he needed to keep up appearances, to ignore his darker impulses. He had fortune and glory, fame and respect from his peers. He could not simply squander it all away to sate his deep rooted anger.

However, things had now changed. A certain job request, one that had piqued Jose's attention, had come to his guild directly. It had been a simple matter at first, a situation that did not require the services of the finest guild in all of Fiore to complete. However, the client was adamant that he receive the best the country had to offer. No, that was not it. Jose remembered it well. The client had demanded the very best. He had felt he deserved it.

So Jose had taken the job on behalf of all of Phantom Lord. Who was he to turn away an individual who came all the way to Oak Town and meet a guild master face-to-face for a job request?

Jose had let his best forces look into the matter, the guild master having at first entrusted the matter to Juvia Lockser. She was an adapt mage, one who could hide in plain sight if need be. That had made her perfect for the task at hand. She could gather the necessary information and no one would be the wiser, not even the potential target.

Eventually that information had led Jose to Fairy Tail. For the briefest of moments he had grown irate at the suggestion that his most hated guild was involved the matter, but then his rage had relented. This job request had been a boon to him. It had allowed him a valid reason to engage Makarov and his precious Fairy Tail in battle.

However, as the job request continued and information was collected, Juvia's services had been soon rendered obsolete. In most recent times had Phantom Lord grown in number, Jose accepting into his ranks newcomers with powers that mystified even him. He had pulled back Juvia from her assignment, granting the task to one of those impressive newcomers.

Now that very same recruit was fast approaching, two others by his side. The three of them were adorn in the robes Jose had selected for them, the guild master having grown to enjoy the secrecy they created. Few were privy to their existence and membership within Phantom Lord and fewer still were privy to who these people truly were, not even the Magic Council, and that was something Jose did not mind in the least. It gave him an edge against the competition, be it Fairy Tail or the rest of the world. That was something he truly appreciated.

One of the cloaked figures dropped to one knee and began to speak. "Master Jose, we come to you with information that will no doubt please you."

"Oh, is that so?" the guild master asked. "Well now, speak up and bring a smile to my heart."

"Fairy Tail," the hooded man, began to say, "is on their way."

"And Makarov is leading them," another one of the figures said.

"And it is just as you said," the third figure added. "He appears to be lost in the haze of anger."

The second and third individuals refused to bend the knee, a sign that Jose did not appreciate but one that he also was willing to allow for the time being. Obedience would come in time.

"Excellent," Jose replied, his thin lips curling back and bringing into view a hellish grin. "I had hoped that the destruction of his guild hall would be enough, but... I suppose the extra incentive I instructed Gajeel to provide was finally what it took to drive Makarov over the edge."

Jose and his allies felt it then, the foundation of the room shaking as a sound of an explosion rang out around them. Jose could feel a sense of satisfaction in response.

"Yes, the pain of a 'father's' 'children' can push even a wise man to madness," the Wizard Saint of Phantom Lord said with a sigh of contentment.

Jose pulled his hands apart, a glow of light forming between them. It took substance then, an orb hovering before him. It came alive with imagery, allowing Jose and his allies to look upon the situation that was coming to a head on the main floor of the guild hall. Jose could see it clearly, the indignant rage upon the faces of those who called themselves Fairy Tail wizards. Makarov's fury was especially delightful to Jose, the guild master happy to know he had caused such pain.

"Suffer, Makarov," Jose hissed through clenched teeth. "That's all I want of you- Oh."

Jose's attention diverted, the mage catching sight of a blonde woman standing within Fairy Tail's ranks. She was just as infuriated as the others, yet that mattered little to Jose. No, it was her sheer presence that brought true contentment to his soul.

"How... unexpected." The mage allowed his all-seeing orb to dissipate and he stared at his cloaked guild members. "This is working out better than even I had expected. Fairy Tail has brought what I desire right to my front door. How kind of them. I finish things with Makarov and lay claim to my prize in one fell swoop."

Jose turned his gaze upon the cloaked figures that stood before him.

"Prove your worth at last," the Wizard Saint said. "Bring to me Lucy Heartfilia and let no Fairy Tail wizard stop you. And as an aside, allow Makarov to come to me, but make certain that he is alone. You three should be more than capable of dealing with the likes of Salamander, Gray Fullbuster and even Titania."

"As you wish." The figures turned away then and took their leave down the flight of stairs.

Jose sat alone then, the guild master reveling in his moment of triumph. He was at last about to prove his superiority to Makarov and secure Phantom Lord's future for generations to come.


The guild hall of Phantom Lord was pure chaos now, something that normally Fairy Tail would revel in. This situation, however, was no mere playful brawl.

No, Fairy Tail was looking for payback against those who had brought destruction to their guild and pain to their family. Makarov's words, his demand to speak to Master Jose had caused a veritable riot, the members of Phantom Lord to attack.

To the likes of Bambietta Basterbine, that was music to her ears. She was still infuriated by what had happened to Levy and she was looking for a way to calm her frenzied nerves. Battle was just the thing she needed and the Quincy waded into it with youthful abandon.

Natsu was no different. The Fire Dragon Slayer was sending wave after wave of lower ranked Phantom Lord wizards to and fro, his attacks proving quite potent to the lot of them. The others, from Erza to Gray, were no different.

Lucy, meanwhile, was feeling angry herself. Despite some of the hardships they had faced, she had considered Fairy Tail fun and games to a degree. Now though she could only imagine Levy pinned to a tree, battered and broken, and it was enough to drive her forward. For the briefest of moments she had considered staying behind to treat Levy, but it was Bambietta's own anger that had spurred the Celestial Spirit mage to help bring the fight to Phantom Lord. "Open the Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!"

The Celestial Spirit came into existence before Lucy and swung his axe around, batting aside the nearest Phantom Lord wizards that had dared to approach. The flat edge of the axe struck hard, sending those men and women scattering across the guild hall. It was momentarily satisfying to Lucy, the mage wondering if for a moment she should have felt guilt for giving in to a baser instinct such as that.

Bambietta however was feeling no such guilt. She was restraining herself as best she could, the Quincy trying to focus less on the motivations behind her and more on the battles before her. She was tearing into a mob of Phantom Lord members, beating them down with her bare hands while Blut Vene kept her safe.

"This is all you lame losers can do?" Bambietta cried out as she shot forward, her right arm clotheslining one woman and sending him crashing to the ground. She whirled around quickly, lashing out with a rising knee that collided with the man who had been trying to attack Bambietta from behind. "Come on, don't let the hype you Phantom Lord creeps had die this quickly!"

"You okay?"

Bambietta turned in response to the familiar voice, coming face to face with Liltotto. The much shorter Quincy's elongated mouth was returning to its rightful place on her face, a few stray swords and other weapons sticking out from between her teeth.

"I'm fine, everyone's fine," Bambietta replied, only to be interrupted by the sound of the man she had just struck in the groin whimpering in pain beside her . "Well okay. He's not fine. But-"

Bambietta and Liltotto could hear more shouting form the battles taking place around them.

"Okay, whatever!" Bambietta continued. "I'm fine at least. Honest. Quincy's honor."

Liltotto swung her right hand back, the closed fist striking the wizard that had tried to approach her directly in the face. It was one of the added benefits of being a Quincy, Liltotto and Bambietta both able to sense the spirits of anyone trying to take them by surprise. Undeterred and barely distracted, Liltotto continued to talk. "Bambi, I know you better than that."

Bambietta shrugged as she felt a concentrated magic hit in her in the back, the attack far too weak to overcome her Blut Vene. "What are you getting at, Lil?"

Liltotto took a step forward, leaving a Phantom Lord wizard to stumble and fall forward as his punch hit nothing but empty air. "You were quiet the whole trip over here, Bambi. And now you're acting like yourself."

"So what?" Bambietta struck down the wizard behind Liltotto with an arrow that flew over her shoulder. "I'm just hyped for battle is all."

"No, you're just trying to hide how pissed off you are by being what you think everyone is expecting," Liltotto replied as she casually stepped to the side and tripped another approaching member of Phantom Lord. "You think I haven't seen that before time and time again?"

"You're wrong, Lil," Bambietta said as she dodged a Phantom Lord wizard resorting to swinging a folding chair at her. Bambietta ripped it from his hands and smashed the wicker seat over his head. The Quincy kicked him away then. "I am not pissed off!"

"I... beg to differ..." the Phantom Lord wizard said before he collapsed to the floor, the chair remaining lodged around his head.

"Come on!" Bambietta shouted. "Fine! Show of hands! Am I really pissed off?"

Liltotto looked at Bambietta with a deadpan expression, the Quincy raising right hand up. That was not surprising to Bambietta in the least, but she was not happy to see several hands belonging to Phantom Lord wizards to rise up as well.

"Majority rules," Liltotto said rather casually.

"Fuck the majority!" Bambietta screamed, her hands clenching into fists. "I watched Star Trek! The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many!"

Liltotto shook her head. "I don't think you did watch it, Bambi."

"Of course I did!" the dark haired Quincy protested. "Khan was awesome when he was on his roaring rampage of revenge! And now so am I! So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go spit my not-so-last breath at one of these Phantom Lord jackasses!"

"For hates' sake?" Liltotto asked, knowing Bambietta would get that reference, the blonde Quincy assuming her friend did not misinterpret and mix up that line of dialogue from the movie. "Yeah, look where that got us the last time."

Bambietta glared at Liltotto. "What?"

"Bambi, just..." Liltotto's voice fell for a moment, the Quincy unsure of what to say. "Just please calm down. I don't want things to end up like the last war we were in."

"War?" Bambietta stepped closer to Liltotto, punching the Phantom Lord wizard that was approaching her from behind. "We've seen war. This hardly counts as one."

"But," Liltotto began to say, "we're right in the enemy's territory like last time and-"

Bambietta put a hand atop Liltotto's right shoulder, the taller Quincy trying to console her. "I'm fine, all right? I mean... I'm mad, but I'm not flying off the handle, okay? So don't worry. Now why don't you go see if you can help Natsu, all right? I'm sure you'd enjoy that."

"I'm not making the same mistake twice," Liltotto said. "I'm sticking right beside you and-"

"Nuh uh," Bambietta interrupted. "Let me repeat it again. Whatever Makarov said, this isn't a war. He wouldn't know a real war if it sailed the seas and came to this continent. So just relax, Lil."

"So you won't bite off more than you can chew again?" Liltotto asked, the blonde still ignoring how flippant Bambietta was trying to be.

"Hey, I could have totally beat that Soul Reaper captain if he didn't have a new power up that seemed like it was conveniently designed to defeat the Explode," Bambietta retorted, the Quincy casually backhanding an approaching enemy before she brought that hand atop Liltotto's head, ruffling her hat and hair for a moment. "Not going to happen again. So don't worry your pretty little head off."

"You sure?" Liltotto asked.

"I'm more than sure," Bambietta said. "So again... go fight beside Natsu. I know you want to."


Totomaru could see that Gajeel was beginning to stand, the Iron Dragon Slayer clearly intent on joining the battle that had consumed the Phantom Lord guild hall. The fire mage was about to do the same. He was unsure as to what exactly Gajeel had done to fan the flames of this conflict, but he was also unwilling to simply let Fairy Tail or any other guild bring this level of violence to his home.

However, there was something Totomaru felt he had to determine first. He approached Gajeel then, meeting him before he could truly enter the fray. "Man, what the hell did you do?"

"Not much," Gajeel replied rather brusquely. "I roughed up some Fairy Tail loser just as Master Jose asked. Then I pinned them to a tree. It wasn't all that much fun. Not like this will be."

Totomaru stood in silence as Gajeel continued to walk forward. The member of the Element Four was unsure of how to take what he had just heard, however he did know that whether or not it was justified, he was not willing to allow Fairy Tail to try and trample on Phantom Lord's pride.

Yet as Totomaru began to divert his attentions to Natsu Dragneel, he began to wonder if that pride was still worth truly protecting.


The Salamander of Fairy Tail was fighting without any particular limits, the Fire Dragon Slayer striking down row after row of Phantom Lord's lower ranked members. It was almost too easy, but he did not truly care at this point. He had become more fired up than he had in a long time, those of Phantom Lord having hurt his guild in a way it had come close to experiencing in a long time.

He could see it still, the guild hall destroyed and more importantly the members of Shadow Gear crucified to a tree. However, all the while a bitter memory continued to pierce through the cloud of anger. It was blurry in its composition, yet Natsu could still see a smile and a flash of silver hair.

Natsu grit his teeth, a hiss slipping out from between them. He would not let anyone take another member away from Fairy Tail. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

The flames burst forth them, smashing into a sea of Phantom Lord wizard, sending them scattering as the wooden floor beneath them became charred.

Then, without warning, Natsu found a burst of flame striking him back. He took a few steps back, having not expected the strike. It had actually caused him some degree of pain, the strange orange flame leaving behind a strange odor that left the Dragon Slayer feeling repulsed by it. Yet he stood his ground and could see his attacker. It was the man in red who possessed hair that was both black and white. It was the very same individual from Phantom Lord that he had met back in Clover Town.

"Did you really think you could just waltz in here and take us down without a fight?" Totomaru asked as he stared at Natsu. "Did you really think I'd let you hurt my guild?"

"Hey!" Natsu shouted. "After what you creeps did, that's my line!"

"Whatever." Totomaru had no interest in arguing with one from Fairy Tail. Such an action would be beneath him, yet also he knew he had no ground to stand on thanks to whatever it was Master Jose had instructed Gajeel to do. "Let's just get this battle over with."

"I intend to!" Natsu screamed as he ran forward. "Fire Dragon's-"

"Ice-Make: Ice Canon!"

An orb of ice suddenly shot forth towards Totomaru. The wizard saw it coming however and unsheathed his blade. It came alive with blue flame and he swung it outwards. The fiery katana cut the orb clean in half, leaving its two pieces to fly past his sides harmlessly.

"Hey!" Natsu shouted as Gray suddenly appeared by his side. "This guy is my fight!"

"You moron," Gray shot back. "This isn't some one-on-one tournament. We'll take him on together."

"Heck no!" Natsu continued to yell. "Fire versus fire! I'm going to take on this jerk myself!"

"Oh, shut up already!" Gray returned with a shout of his own, the ice wizard growing irritated. "Fine, you don't want to work together? I'll fight him on my own!"

Totomaru watched on disbelief as Natsu and Gray continued to yell back and forth, their faces growing closer as they locked eyes in a fury.

"Uh, guys?" Totomaru asked, his index finger scratching at the side of his face in confusion. "I'll fight you both, so let's just- Wait." Totomaru's face grew quite serious then. "By all means, argue away. That just makes it easier for me to take you both out at once."

Totomaru sheathed his blade and raised both hands up, a ball of blue flame coming to life besides his palms. It grew larger and larger until it dwarfed the caster behind its creation in size. Then Totomaru gave it a simple nudge with his magic, the fiery orb firing forth towards the arguing Natsu and Gray.

"Man, just shut up already! I'm going to fight him on my own!"

"No, I'm going to- Oh crap!"

Natsu heard Gray's exclamation of surprise and turned his gaze until he could see the blue burst of fire coming towards them both.

"That's right!" Totomaru laughed. "Keep your eye on the birdie!"

"Damn it!" Gray brought his hands forward. "Ice-Make: Ice Shie-"

Natsu suddenly pushed Gray to the side, the Dragon Slayer slamming a fist into the opposing palm. "Don't go stealing my spotlight! I can totally eat tha-"

Gray pushed Natsu then, their cheeks pressing against one and another. "Ice-Make: Ice-"

"Come on, fire ball! Get in my bel-"

Neither wizard had their moment to shine, a blonde young lady appearing before them thanks to Hirenkyaku. It was Liltotto and her mouth was extending outwards and growing larger in size. In only a matter of moments did it dwarf Totomaru's attack, the blue flames falling into her maw.

Liltotto shut her enlarged mouth once it was gone, the Quincy gulping down the fiery meal with relative ease.

Totomaru was left simply in shock. "What the hell just happened?"

"Did she just... pull a you?" Gray asked as he looked at Natsu.

Natsu paid no attention to Gray's disbelief, the Dragon Slayer simply looking at Liltotto. "That... was... awesome!"

Liltotto turned to look at Natsu, her face reddening in response to his praise. "You... really thi-"

Liltotto was cut off then, a small burn escaping from her throat. Liltotto's face only took on a brighter shade of pink in response, the Quincy covering her mouth with her right hand.

"Sorry," Liltotto whispered.

Neither Natsu or Gray paid any mind to Liltotto's moment of embarrassment, the two of them still equally mystified and enamored by what she had done.

Totomaru was simply shocked. He knew this woman was strong thanks to the battles in Clover, but he had never expected her to simply eat his attack. He had not even imagined Natsu Dragneel could have managed such a feat, let alone Liltotto. "How... how did you do that?"

"I was hungry," Liltotto answered before she gingerly touched the spot where her neck and chest met. "And now I'm suffering some serious heart burn..."

Totomaru was simply exasperated. "You were hungry? That's your explanation?"

Liltotto shrugged. "It's... magic so I don't have to explain it?"

"That- That-" Totomaru was at a loss for words.

"Hey," Liltotto continued, the Quincy considering what would Bambietta do at a time like this, "I am not going to be criticized by a guy who named his attack 'Keep Your Eye on the Birdie', okay?"

"That is not the name of that attack," Totomaru shot back before relenting. "Though I suppose I should consider giving them titles. DoubleSunday?"

Liltotto just looked at him with indifference. "Sounds stupid."

"Whatever," Totomaru hissed as his hands came alive with fire. "Let's just get this over with, trespasser!"

"Wait a minute," Natsu interjected. "I picked this fight first."

"No, this is my fight!" Gray shouted in response.

"If you two don't stop fighting, then I'm going to tell Erza on you," Liltotto said as she slowly began to look over her shoulder and note the fear in the eyes of the two Fairy Tail wizards. "But don't worry. I'll put in a good word with her for you, Natsu. Now just go run along and leave this fight to me."

Gray and Natsu began to turn away, the former quite confused. "A good word? Why do you get the special treatment, Natsu?"


Erza was finding little to worry about from Phantom Lords' wizard. She and the master both were keeping them at bay, all the while Erza did what she could to keep a close eye on Bambietta. The Quincy was acting in accordance with the wizard's wishes and not causing any undo harm.

Master Makarov meanwhile was beginning to move forward. "Erza Scarlet, I leave this situation in your capable hands. I will head upstairs and... speak with Master Jose."

"As you wish," Erza replied as she blocked a magic blast with her blade. "Do be careful, master."

Makarov was gone then, the older man slipping through the chaos and heading towards the stairs. He began to walk up them unopposed, allowing Erza to concentrate fully on the matters at hand. She had a feeling she knew which Phantom Lord wizard was responsible for both the destruction of the guild hall and the beating of Shadow Gear and she was determined to find and defeat him before anyone else. Before Bambietta did. That was Erza's biggest worry.

The Quincy was holding true to her word, but Erza also knew what her bonds meant to her. The S-Class wizard was not so inclined to find out what would happen if Bambietta was pushed too far.

"Gajeel Redfox, the Iron Dragon Slayer," Erza whispered under her breath. "Show yourself for all our sakes."


Bambietta was still managing to tear through a mass of Phantom Lords lower ranked members, the Quincy knowing her darker impulses were truly allowing her to enjoy the infliction of pain in ways that no one else in Fairy Tail save Liltotto could even dare to comprehend. She simply did not care, the Quincy continuing to wade a trail of carnage as she continued to move through the madness around her.

It was then that Bambietta soon saw two individuals approaching her. The first was a bald man wearing purple shades and a pale colored jacket. The other was a woman with short, dark green hair that was adorned by a hat befitting a court jester and not a wizard.

"You Fairy Tail wizards are really making a mess of things, huh?" the man asked as he pushed up his shades with his middle finger, an action Bambietta was not entirely sure was an accident. "You ready to take her out, Sue?"

"This is going to be such a pain in the ass, Boze," the woman replied. "But fine."

"Oh, sweet," Bambietta teased. "You losers got names. Good, I was getting tired of just wrecking the shit of nameless fodder."

"Well now," Boze retorted, "walk softly and carry a big chip on your shoulder. I guess that's the Fairy Tail way."

"You're not Salamander, you're not Titania," Sue continued, "and you're calling our guild mates nameless fodder?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Bambietta replied, the Quincy thrusting out her chest as she placed her hands on her hips. "Here, let me add a name to the face that you're going to have sleepless nights over from now on. I may not be Titania or even Salamander, but what stands before you is the Star Knight of Fairy Tail, Bambietta Basterbine!"

Bambietta laughed then, an expression of her confidence and enthusiasm. In her mind one thought was running through it with clear satisfaction.

Nailed it!

Sue nodded her head. "Okay, I got to admit, the Star Knight is a pretty awesome nickname, I'll give you that."

"Sleepless nights, eh?" Boze spoke next, this thoughts elsewhere. "Well, you are pretty cute, so..."

Bambietta blinked in confusion for the briefest of moments before she got flustered and angry. "I meant you're going to have nightmares about how badly the Star Knight is going to kick your asses!"

"Is that a fact?" Boze raised his right arm up, a magic circle appearing before it. "Behold my sound magic! Howling!"

Bambietta watched on as a swarm of what appeared to be musical notes burst forth from the magic circle. "Music notes? Really? That's just- Oh, shit."

Bambietta was cut off then, the torrent of magical force striking her with deafening force. She was pushed back by the power of Boze's unconventional attack. Then it faded away, leaving Bambietta to glare at Boze. She was relatively unharmed, but clearly annoyed that she had been forced back by such a ridiculous attack.

"So what did you think, huh?" Boze shouted, the wizard becoming overconfident in his powers. "I bet you'll being singing a sour note now- Hey!"

Boze reached out to touch the back of his head, a moment of pain having interrupted him. Sue was bringing her own hand down after slapping him. "What did we say about music puns?"

Bambietta did not care either way. The Quincy brought into existence her bow and fired an arrow directly at the two wizard without another word.

Sue was quick to notice. "Oh, no you don't! Form Mirror!"

A magic circle appeared from her hands next, a glowing mirror bursting forth from it. The Quincy's arrow hit the mirror, yet the reflective surface did not shatter. No, Bambietta could only watch as the arrow flew into it. Then, before she could move past her confusion, the arrow flew back out towards Bambietta.

"What the hell?" Bambietta raised her right hand up and focused on her own misdirected power. The arrow broke apart under her will power, scattering into nothing more than magical particles. "Okay, that was annoying."

"You like my mirror magic?" Sue could only laugh. "Okay, Star Knight! You ready to reflect on your mista- Ow!" Sue grabbed the back of her head then, turning to glare at Boze. "What was that for?"

"What's good for goose is good for the gander," he replied. "No sound jokes, no mirror jokes."

"You drive a hard bargain," Sue said dejectedly. "But fine."

"Good," Boze continued. "So shall we finish her off together?"

"Only if Gajeel praises us equally for kicking some Fairy Tail butt," Sue answered. "You ready?"

"Am I ever not ready?" Boze turned back to Bambietta and created another magic circle. "Disturbed!"

Bambietta let Blut Vene flow through her bodies, the Quincy prepared to shrug off the attack a second time. "Yeah, you won't fool me the same way twice!"

"Good to know!" Boze said nothing else then, Bambietta awaiting for his barrage of musical notes. However, they never came.

"Did you... did you screw up the spell?" Bambietta asked with some amount of confusion. Then she winked. "Poor guy. I know how it is for a fellow to... perform badly under pressure. Look, you could take something for that. It'd-"

Bambietta suddenly screamed then, red magic erupting from the ground underneath her, musical notes of power swirling about within the vortex. There was pain, one she had not been expecting despite Blut Vene's usage. Still, she knew she could handle it.

However, despite that confidence inherit in Bambietta, she was not prepared for what came next. Sue formed another magic circle of her own, the wizard screaming out as she did so. "Kaleidoscope!"

Bambietta could see it then, a series of mirror forming around her entire body while her pain continued. She could see her agonized expression within the mirrors and it only made her angry.

"Sorry to imprison you in my little mirror cage," Bambietta could hear Sue yelling from outside, "but I just hate to watch someone in pain. Maybe you'll enjoy seeing it instead."

Bambietta had to admit, she did find some perverse pleasure in watching others suffer if she did not like them. That was precisely why she did not enjoy seeing her own agonized face immortalized before her in the mirrors. "What a dumbass," the Quincy hissed. "I'm a sadist if anything. But a masochist? Not my style."

Bambietta brought her right hand before her face, tightening the fingers into a fist. She shifted from Blut Vene to Blut Arterie, cringing from the influx of new pain now that her defense had fallen.

It did not matter. Soon Bambietta would be free. She swung out with the hand, smashing her knuckles into the mirror that was before her.

However, much to her dismay, it did not break. Bambietta could only wince in pain as the bones in her hand threatened to break.

"New... plan..."

Bambietta switched back to Blut Vene and pulled her fist back before her face. She concentrated then, forcing her body to draw power from the very magic that was causing her suffering. She felt that very same pain begin to fade, her Blut Vene increasing in strength.

The power was intoxicating as it always was, leaving Bambietta to grin savagely. She flexed the power that had become hers now outwards. The mirrors that had imprisoned her began to push away in response, the Quincy watching as the magically reinforced glass began to crack.

Then the mirror cage simply shattered into a mist of sparkles, light reflecting on the glass as it faded away into the air. Bambietta stood before Boze and Sue, the two shocked at how their powers had been so easily obstructed and destroyed.

"No... No way..." Boze whispered.

Sue was next, the Phantom Lord wizard growing fearful. "What... are you?"

Bambietta smirked. "Didn't I already tell you? Fine, I'll do your ears the honor of hearing it again! I am Bambietta Basterbine, the Star Knight of Fairy Tail!"

Bambietta let her powers flow outwards once again, her spiritual pressure slamming into the two wizards. They gasped in surprise, their ability to breathe easy becoming compromised. However they did not fall so easily.

Bambietta did not care in the slightest. She began to walk towards Boze and Sue, watching as they were unable to defend themselves. "You know, not that long ago you two would have probably wrecked me pretty good with that little stunt of yours just now. It's a good that things have changed lately."

Bambietta brought her hand covered in the Sanrei glove upwards once more.

"See this glove?" the Quincy asked her two opponents. "It means I'm playing with power now, kids."

Bambietta suddenly moved forward, the palms of her hands slamming into the face of both Boze and Sue. She pushed them down, slamming their heads into the floor. The two cried out in pain and were left looking up at Bambietta in a daze.

"Now then," Bambietta asked as she grabbed Sue by the collar of her shirt and pulled her up so that they were face to face, "that Gajeel guy you mentioned earlier... Is he the type who could give me a good fight?"

Sue managed to smile despite her pain. "He'll kick your ass for what you've done to us. Friends... to the end..."

Bambietta's expression fell, a dull anger glowing within her eyes. "Yeah, I guess that sort of thing does make for good motivation."

"If I were you, I'd back away those losers this instant."

Bambietta heard it then, a gruff voice that she did not recognize. The Quincy looked away from Sue and could see a man dressed in a tattered black robe, white slacks underneath. His arms were bare save for black gloves covering his hands. His hair was just as dark as his attire, the ragged mane flowing down his back. Yet what was most telling of his appearance were the metal bolts that seemed to line sections of his face and arms.

Bambietta looked back down at Sue, the Quincy unsure if she had heard right earlier. "Wait, that's your friend?"

Sue glanced away. "I guess you could say that."

"Wow, and I thought I could be mean to my groupies back home." Bambietta unceremoniously dropped Sue, the Quincy ignoring as the woman gasped in pain as she hit the floor again, and she looked at Gajeel. "Well, you do at least look tough. You got some nice magic on your side, or-"

Bambietta watched them as several members of Fairy Tail suddenly ran towards Gajeel, as if the lot of them felt they needed strength in numbers to take him down. "H-hey!" Bambietta shouted. "Back off! I want to fight him!"

Gajeel's red eyes looked about at his approaching enemies from Fairy Tail. He grit his teeth and clasped his hands together. "Iron Dragon's Pillars!"

Bambietta watched them as dark gray pillars suddenly burst forth from the ground encircling Gajeel, the structures smashing into the approaching wizards and sending them flying away with screams of pain.

Bambietta could only stare at this very same pillars recognizing them as the very same ones she had seen pierced through the Fairy Tail guild hall. The Quincy's eyes were wide at first, slowly narrowing as her lips curled back into a sardonic grin. "So you're the guy who wrecked my guild hall."

"You just had to remind me," Gajeel shot back. "What? You trying to break my concentration before we fight by making me all nostalgic for good times?"

"Oh, big scary Iron Dragon Slayer," Bambietta scoffed. "Look at the big brain on you, catching on to my master plan just like that. Whatever shall I do now?"

Bambietta raised a closed fist up.

"Oh right," the Quincy said, answering her own question. "I guess I can just punch you. You know, a lot."

"You're welcome to try," Gajeel said as he took one step forward. "But I think I'm going to do a little bit more than just punch you. Iron Dragon's Sword!"

Bambietta watched on as Gajeel's right hand began to transform, the flesh changing to solid, black metal that began to extend outwards into the form of a blade which had dozens of jagged teeth wrapped around its edge. Those very same teeth began to move faster enough to blur, an audible noise echoing across the guild hall.

"Wow," Bambietta said. "You can turn your arm into a chainsaw? You know, that'd be so cool if you weren't the dick who wrecked my home away from home away from home!"

"How many homes we talking about?" Gajeel asked as he took a few steps forward, his blade dragging across the floor and tearing through the wood as he approached. "You know what? Never mind. By the time I'm done with you, you won't want to show that pretty little face of yours at any of them."

"Awww, don't talk like that," Bambietta said as she smirked at the man drawing closer. "You don't need that buzz saw of yours to put a smile on this face. The fact that I get to beat the crap out of you is reason enough to grin."

"You idiot," Boze said from the ground as he looked up at Bambietta. "You don't know what you're dealing with. My man Gajeel is going to take you down piece by piece. That's what you get for messing with the friends of an Iron Dragon Slayer."

"Iron Dragon Slayer?" Bambietta's smile only grew wider, her curiosity piqued. "So he's like a heavy metal variant of Natsu? Sounds like fu-"

Bambietta suddenly saw an iron pipe smash into Boze's torso, the man gasping in pain as he felt his ribs give way from the attack. His body slid across the ground away from Bambietta then, the pipe retracting. She watched as it slipped back into Gajeel's arm, the dark metal turning back into his left hand.

"You always talk too much, Boze" Gajeel hissed. "And friends? That'll be the day when the great, badass Gajeel needs friends. I honestly don't know why I put up with you losers..."

Sue looked rather upset. "But boss..."

"Shut up," Gajeel retorted, the man using another iron pipe to push Sue away from Bambietta. "I ain't got time to worry about you losers right now. I got some fighting to do."

"Like I said," Bambietta whispered under her breath, "you two need to pick better friends."

Bambietta could feel it deep within her, a moment of starkly livid disgust. The Quincy could not comprehend quite what was fueling that sensation, that moment of heart ache that seemed less focused on Gajeel and more so directed against herself, but she pushed it aside as quickly as it had come. Whatever was attempting to gnaw at her soul would have to wait until another time. Bambietta had a battle to devote her total attention to.

"Let's dance, Dragon Slayer." Bambietta wasted no time to go on the offensive, the Quincy leaping towards Gajeel. She lashed out with her right hand, the white gloved knuckles raking across flesh and forcing the Phantom Lord wizard's head to twist to the side.

However, despite the impact, Gajeel only glared at Bambietta with a visible eye, his mouth curling into a grin. "You got in close. Stupid move."

Bambietta could hear the sound of the Iron Dragon Slayer's buzz saw of a blade. She could see the weapon out of the corner of her eye, coming closer now that she had closed the distance. "Oh shit, I didn't plan for this!"

Bambietta's feet suddenly slid across the wooden floor, the force behind Gajeel's blade pushing her about. Yet there was no scream of pain, not at all. The iron sword had merely struck metal and not flesh, Bambietta's free hand having moved close to her side, her sword having materialized in a reverse grip so as to block the attack.

"Oh wait," the Quincy quipped. "Yes I did."

"The hell?" Gajeel was momentarily confused, the Dragon Slayer holding his sword in place. "You some kind of requip wizard?"

"Me? No, no, no." Bambietta reached down with her left hand, allowing it to join the right around the handle of her sword. She grit her teeth and, with all the force she could muster, she began to push against Gajeel's sword arm. It took a moment, Bambietta having to resort to Blut Arterie, but she managed to parry the Iron Dragon Slayer's attack. "I'm so much more than that!"

Gajeel fell back a bit, the man having lost his footing for in response to Bambietta's own movement. Still, he was not one to lose confidence. "Interesting," he said as she allowed his sword to transform back into his hand. "Maybe I was wrong to try and end this quick. I guess I can ignore Master Jose's orders this one time."

"Orders?" Bambietta did not know what that was about. "What'cha talking about, Dragon Slayer?"

"He said I could do whatever I wanted to you Fairy Tail wizards," Gajeel answered, the Iron Dragon Slayer keeping his eyes locked with Bambietta's own. "I just couldn't kill one of you in particular."

"That's pretty cryptic," Bambietta replied, the Quincy admittedly concerned and curious. "Cryptic but interesting. Come on, share with the rest of the class. Tell me more."

"You think I'm stupid or something?" Gajeel asked. "You won't get a peep out of me, not now. I ain't like your guild's Dragon Slayer."

"Oh, don't sell Natsu short," Bambietta retorted. "He's... Okay, he's not a total dipshit moron. Besides, we've got us another Dragon Slayer on loan and she's smarter than the average wizard I'm sure."

"Another Dragon Slayer?" Gajeel looked away from Natsu and stared at Natsu Dragneel, keeping a watchful eye on Happy as he floated around him. "She got a flying cat too?"

"Unfortunately," Bambietta replied. "She's just a bitchy version of Mary Poppins if you ask me."

Bambietta noted a strange change in Gajeel's expression, as if the Dragon Slayer was growing depressed about something. Whatever it was that got him down, it did not last long. "Whatever. I ain't really interested in chatting it up with a Fairy Tail wizard. So let's just get down to business agai-"

Gajeel's mouth snapped shut, the Iron Dragon Slayer's teeth rattling as they collided with each other. Bambietta had not let him finish his sentence, the Quincy having propelled herself forward so her knee had smashed into the underside of Gajeel's jaw.

Despite the pain and the surprise of the attack, Gajeel was undeterred. His right hand shifted into a metallic form once more, the pillar it had become extending outwards. The unforgiving metal drove into Bambietta's torso, smashing against ribs as it forced the Quincy away.

Bambietta grit her teeth, Blut Vene mitigating the majority of the force behind the attack, but her ribs were still flaring up from the sudden force that had been applied. She watched as Gajeel seemed to grow further and further away, the Quincy left to look down at him. For a moment Bambietta had to wonder if he was attempting to pin her to the ceiling, or worse, to put her through it. Either way she was not interested.

Bambietta let her sword dissipate then, instead bringing to life her bow. Despite her pain, the Quincy brought it up and began to take careful aim. She could see Gajeel's grin, as if the Iron Dragon Slayer was not the least bit worried about what she was attempting. "Yeah, smile away, you smug bastard..."

Bambietta's right hand released, the arrow that had been generated of spiritual and magical energy firing forth. As it approached, Bambietta could see the smirk Gajeel wore fade quickly. The Phantom Lord wizard moved quick, retracting his pillar of an arm and trying to shift his body to the sight. Despite his best efforts, the arrow tore through the side of his ragged black hair, flaying the edges of it. The arrow continued on then, bursting apart with power that caused the wood to splinter apart.

"What the hell kind of magic was that?" Gajeel asked as he looked over his shoulder. "First requipping, now... Light-Make magic?"

"I told you I'm just full of surprises!"

Gajeel turned his gaze forward once more, the Iron Dragon Slayer catching sight of Bambietta. However, it was a confusing sight to the man. She was hovering in midair, a technique he could not recall seeing in the past.

No, that was not accurate. She was not flying. Gajeel could see it in the way Bambietta's feet were position. It was as if she was standing on some unseen surface.

"Just what the hell kind of wizard are you?" the Iron Dragon Slayer asked, his tone demanding of answers yet all the while enraged enough to not truly care.

"Who wants to know?" Bambietta asked, the Quincy planting her hands on her hips as she leaned forward to look down at Gajeel. "The poor little jerkwad who wrecked my guild hall? Well, sucks to be you, because I'm not telling!"

Gajeel's eyes narrowed. "I'm going to enjoy bolting that mouth of yours shut for good, lady."

Bambietta raised a hand up to her mouth, the Quincy doing her best to pretend to be offended. "Gasp! But then you'd be denying the world of my lovely, lovely voice! And between you and me, I know there are guys who would just die to hear what I sound like!"

"I swear, you're all talk," Gajeel hissed, "but I guess that's your best weapon. Well, if you won't shut up and come down here to fight..."

Gajeel's right hand returned to its original shape, the Dragon Slayer flexing his fingers and allowing metallic daggers to slip out from his flesh. He held them all between his fingers and swung the hand forward, propelling the daggers right towards Bambietta.

"Oh, scary man." Bambietta shrugged, the Quincy disinterested in even bothering to exert the effort to parry the attacks with her short sword. Instead she simply used Hirenkyaku to her benefit, the Quincy's image flickering before it vanished completely.

"What the hell was that?" Gajeel did not know what to make of what he had seen at first, yet the Iron Dragon Slayer soon received an answer to his confusion.

Bambietta appeared by his side, the Quincy's elbow smashing directly into his face. Gajeel felt a burst of pain around his nose, the Dragon Slayer having to wonder if she had managed to break it. Whether she had or not did not truly concern him. As far as the Iron Dragon Slayer was concern it would just be something he would have to pay her back for.

To that end he twisted his body around, lashing out right his right hand. The fist drove into Bambietta's stomach, directly beneath her chest, and caused the Quincy's eyes to widen from the unexpected counterattack.

However, that momentary surprise did not last long. Gajeel was soon greeted by the sight of a smile on Bambietta's face. Despite her wounded pride, despite her anger at this man for damaging her new home, Bambietta was enjoying this fight despite herself.

That was precisely why she did her very best to shrug off the rush of pain she had just experienced. She reached out with both hands, clasping her fingers with Gajeel's worn hair. Then, without giving him a chance to respond, Bambietta swung her head forward. Blut Vene at the ready, she felt little pain as her forehead collided with his.

Gajeel, however, did feel it. The Iron Dragon Slayer stumbled back as Bambietta let go of him. He reached up with his right hand, touching his forehead then, his thoughts a jumble for the moment. "Damn, and I thought I was hard headed... What the hell is up with you, lady?"

"Hey, don't be mad," Bambietta teased. "I just figured I should give you a piece of my mind over what you did."

"Is that right? Well then, here's a message from me to you..." Gajeel's entire upper body suddenly pitched forward, the man opening his mouth as wide as he could. "Iron Dragon's Roar!"

"Oh, right. Dragon Slayer." Bambietta was quickly engulfed in the vortex of dark magic. She could feel it, shrapnel hidden within the veritable tornado, each and every one of them tearing at her flesh. However, the Quincy would not allow herself to succumb to the attack. Blut Vene flowed beneath her skin and she tried her best to stand her ground. Yet her feet continued to skid across the floor despite her resistance. Bambietta struggled to push forward, to take a step towards Gajeel, but it was to no avail.

Then, as soon as it had begun, the attack faded away. Bambietta was hurt, her body suffering the pain that had been wrought, but she did her best to stand defiant. She refused to stop smiling, the Quincy determined to show Gajeel that he could not break her in such a manner. Bambietta could see Gajeel then, the Iron Dragon Slayer simply staring at her in surprise.

"You're still standing?" The Iron Dragon Slayer began to wear a wicked grin then, a light gleaming in his eyes. "You know, I'm really starting to enjoy this. You're putting up a helluva better fight than those Shadow Gear losers did."

Bambietta's own grin quickly fell, the Quincy's eyes suddenly narrowing. "What did you just say?"

"What, you deaf?" Gajeel said, his smirk never fading. "I said you're putting up a better fight than those that little lady and her friends did."

"That..." Bambietta's voice began to lower in register, becoming little more than a whisper. "That was you?"

"Damn straight," Gajeel answered, the Iron Dragon Slayer boasting with little restraint. "But beating these three down was hardly satisfying. You on the other hand... Yeah, I think I'm going to get some joy out of fighting yo-"

Gajeel's words were cut short, the man finding himself unable to speak. Bambietta had lunged towards him with Hirenkyaku, her fingers gripping tightly across his throat. Blut Vene had shifted to Blut Arterie and the Quincy was unrelenting as she began to truly cut off Gajeel's ability to breathe.

That, however, was not all that Bambietta did. The Quincy continued to push forward, Hirenkyaku propelling her and Gajeel forward at an alarming rate. His broad back smashed into a far wall, Bambietta pushing harder and harder. Soon Gajeel's body tore through wood plaster, causing the materials to splinter and crack.

All the while did Bambietta remain silent, her rage having become a quiet storm that dwelt within her soul. The fight she had found herself in now was an entirely different one from before. This was not simply the man who had hurt her pride, this was not simply the man who had disrespected the guild she had found herself in.

No, this was the bastard who had hurt her friend, who had caused undo pain to Levy. That was more than enough to leave Bambietta's blood boiling, the Quincy becoming lost in her rage. So she kept pushing, all her strength at the ready. It was more than enough to drive herself and Gajeel out of the Phantom Lord guild hall, the Quincy only letting go of Gajeel's throat as they fell out into the daylight and city streets of Oak Town.

Bambietta was unrelenting still, watching with some degree of twisted satisfaction as Gajeel coughed violently, his ability to breath properly restored to him.

Bambietta felt nothing but hate as she looked at him. Then his image faded from her sight, Bambietta only seeing Levy pinned to a tree, her body bloodied and battered.

"You," Bambietta began to whisper, "I'm going to-"

Bambietta's mind continued to play tricks on her, the image of Levy fading. Instead all Bambietta could see then was a fleeting glimpse born from events that had transpired only moments before. Of Gajeel attacking his own guild mates right before her eyes. It only added to the Quincy's fury but she still was unsure as to why.

As if her heart and soul were trying to give her an answer, Bambietta saw something else then. A face only vaguely familiar to her, one that began to split down the middle, blood splattering outwards.

Bambietta grit her teeth, inadvertently biting the inside of her mouth hard enough to draw blood that began to seep down her face from the edge of her lips.

"No," Bambietta hissed. "Why tell you what I'm going to do? You and I aren't worth the words."


Erza Scarlet had seen more than enough, the S-Class having witnessed Bambietta Basterbine's sudden attack on Gajeel Redfox. The worst had come, the very thing that the armored mage had been overly concerned of.

Bambietta had found the one responsible for Levy's pain and all Erza could remember was the look of despair and anger that had engulfed Bambietta back in South Gate Park.

Erza quickly parried the lot of Phantom Lord wizard that had attacked her, the group of them falling back from the swift motion. She began to give chase to Bambietta and Gajeel, heading for the hole in the wall that the Quincy had made. Erza knew what she had to do. She simply had to save Bambietta from herself.

However, it was then that the S-Class wizard was greeted with the sight of three individuals clad from head to toe in robes, a hood obscuring their visages from her completely.

"You three," Erza said as her advancement was stopped, "get out of my way."

"I'm afraid that isn't an option," the hooded man stationed in the middle replied. "Master Jose finds a select few of you a threat to his... battle with Makarov Dreyer, so we have been instructed to impede you."

As if on cue, the two individuals that flanked the one who had spoken broke off, leaving Erza to watch as they moved towards Natsu and Gray. She was concerned then, knowing that her allies would be facing off against the unknown just as she was about to, but there were other concerns as well. She knew of Natsu and Gray's strengths, their potentials, and that was precisely why she was confident in their chances even when facing any challenge.

It was Bambietta that concerned her. The S-Class wizard knew of her strength and potential as well, for good or for ill, and that was why she was concerned when it came to her fighting the man responsible for Levy's injuries.

The man in the violet robes took a step closer to Erza, his voice interrupting her thoughts. "Now then, I shall be your opponent, Titania Erza."

Erza requiped her favored twin blade, one held in a reverse grip and the other in a more traditional style, as she prepared for the battle that lay ahead of her. She had to defeat this man and quickly for the not only the sake of her guild, but perhaps for mutual sakes of Bambietta Basterbine and Gajeel Redfox.

Time was of the essence.


Man, I REALLY dont want to be in Gajeels shoes right now. Bambietta is looking for blood and she is not going to let ANYONE stop her from getting it. Will she be able to do that...I think you should be able to hazard a guess since we are delaying the next chapter.

Things are going to get...rough for our favorite iron eater. Its NOTHING personal. We LIKE Gajeel, hes a cool character...Unfortunate,y he just pissed of a psycho quincy with more power than Erza has in her heart cruze armor...This is going to get ugly. Brace yourselves. (Not as bad as we were going to make it originally mind you, but still bad.)

As for the most recent chapter, JESUS! I didnt think we would ever see a human besides Zeref that could give Acnologia a good fight...Erza's mom is really scary. Same goes for Augest...Jezz.

Before i go, allow me to leave you with the MPF's of this chapter.

Sue: 870

Boze: 900

Mirror trap spell: 1425

Bambietta (Holding back) 1485

Natsu: 1460

Grey:1450

Totamaru: 1400

Gajeel: 1600

Erza (Heart Kruze): 2300

I hope that you all really enjoyed this chapter. Please leave us a review to give us your thoughts on it, we would really appericate it. Reviews help give us motivation to do better.