Chapter 23: Family


Sorry for the wait everyone. Life got a bit busy for us all. But now we're back in business! I think you'll enjoy what we have here! This chapter gives us some big development for Bambietta, as well as some big changes. Well, I wont dely you guys any longer! Still, I hope to see all of your thoughts in the form of a review, it would really mean alot to us to see what you think.

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!

Ankoholic's Author's Note: My apologies for the bit of a delay this chapter experienced. I suppose the last two years of Bleach have been rough on me and the time around its ending has been no different. The ending was both a blessing and a curse for me. A blessing since all I cared about the series for the last year was its ending. A curse since, well, that wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Not at all. Nonetheless, my resolve and dedication to this story has never been stronger. So this crossover adventure shall continue on forever and ever... or at least until we hit the intended ending. Whichever comes first.


"She's gone?"

Totomaru and Juvia both ascended to the top floor of the guild hall, intent on checking up on the captive Wendy Marvell. Much to their surprise however, they had found her gone, the cell door open. Reacting on instinct, Totomaru had done what he had always done in an emergency: he had reported back to his guild master.

It was an honest desire, one born from worry. The Sky Dragon Slayer had been left in the care of Jason Joker, a new member that Totomaru found himself wary around. He was not to be trusted. Now that he and Wendy were both missing, the fire mage was incredibly concerned. He had hoped that Jose Porla would share his concern, but the look that was crossing the older man's face stunned both himself and Juvia.

"So I offer her honest hospitability despite our guilds being at war," Jose said, his teeth gritting together, his hands clenching at the arm rests of his chair. "I do all of this for our guest and she runs away?"

"Master Jose," Totomaru interjected. "I don't think that's what we need to concern ourselves with-"

"Jason may have betrayed us," Juvia interrupted, her own concern for the young girl nearly as strong as Totomaru's own. She however knew that she had to play to Jose's altered state of emotions. "We cannot let him do as he pleases. Not if he's run off with someone we had in our care."

Totomaru looked at his fellow Element Four member, relief evident on his face. He had seen it just a second before, the rage that Jose had been exhibiting beginning to fade. She had gotten through to him.

"You may well speak the truth, Juvia," Jose said as he allowed the side of his face to fall within the palm of his right hand, the elbow resting on the chair. "I want you two to handle this situation."

Totomaru bowed slightly. "It will be as you wish, Master Jose. We will find Jason and Wendy and bring them both back here."

"No," Jose said, his voice suddenly so cold that it shattered any relief that Totomaru had felt. "We are dealing with either a traitor or an escapee. That's much more concerning then a member of Phantom Lord being defeated by a lowly Fairy Tail wizard. Whichever the case may be, either Jason the traitor or Wendy the escapee, you will find one or the both of them... and kill them."

Totomaru and Juvia's eyes both went wide, the twin elemental wizards looking at their guild master in horror. "Master Jose," Juvia whispered. "You... You can't mean that..."

"Master, you can't be serious!" Totomaru shouted. "Are we not one of Fiore's greatest guilds? Would you have us throw away our status by-"

"Enough!" Jose suddenly stood to his full height then, glaring down at Totomaru and Juvia both. "I will not have my orders defied, not even by my favored S-Class wizards! I understand Hanza now, so if you will not do this, then I will assign this task to him!"

Totomaru was about to speak out again, to step towards his guild master as he did so, but Juvia's arm suddenly moved before him and blocked his path.

"Totomaru and I will resolve this matter," the water mage replied calmly, "Master Jose."


Wendy Marvell was free from the clutches of Phantom Lord thanks to the woman in white, but she was not out of the proverbial fire just yet. She was eternally grateful to the friend of Bambietta's for rescuing her, but the Sky Dragon Slayer was now wishing that the woman had stuck by her side on the journey from Oak Town to Fairy Tail's guild hall.

For Wendy Marvell was lost.

The young girl had never been alone, let alone left to her own devices. Yet now there was no Bambietta by her side. No Grandeeny the Sky Dragon. No Carla. No member of Cait Shelter. Not even the young boy who had taken to that guild so many years ago.

No, Wendy Marvell was alone now, left to fend for herself. She had no idea of the direction she was headed, the only sign of human life having been Oak Town itself. She had been hesitant to ask for help there, knowing that she had to put as much distance between herself and Phantom Lord as possible.

Yet now, as she found herself lost in the woods and subject to hearing the sounds of animals she did not want to cross paths with, Wendy was questioning if she had made the right decision.

Despite that however, she continued to press forward. She nervously walked through the unknown woods, her hands pressed together, her fingers playing against one and another as she continued her trek.

"Master Roubaul, I want to go back to Cait Shelter..."

Wendy's voice was low and unrelentingly quiet, the Sky Dragon Slayer beginning to realize the world of trouble she had gotten into by joining Fairy Tail. However, such doubts quickly faded. The thought of being kidnapped by Phantom Lord was quickly replaced by mental images of those she had come to know within Fiore's most notorious guild. Lucy, Levy, Natsu, Erza, Liltotto and...

"Bambi, I'm sorry." Wendy began to sniffle then, the mage transitioning into a state of simply crying. The good outweighed the bad and the Sky Dragon Slayer was beginning to feel nothing but guilt for the judgmental thoughts she had just experienced. "I... I do love being in Fairy Tail and I... I just want to go back there..."

Wendy tried to reel herself in, to control her sobbing, but her emotions had alerted something to her presence. The Sky Dragon Slayer felt her skin crawl as she saw the bushes around her begin to move and part, something walking out from the forest.

"Hey, stay back," Wendy whimpered as she took a step back. "I'm warning you, really. I-I'm a Sky Dragon Slayer..."


Lucy Heartfilia was all but on pins and needles, the Celestial Spirit mage concerned for the future. If what was written on the note from Phantom Lord that Bambietta had shone her was true, then this entire situation was her fault. Whether she had intended it or not, her actions had led to this war between guilds. Lucy had wanted to take responsibility, but Bambietta had spoken against it. Yet, as much as her friend would disagree, Lucy still knew she felt nothing but sorrow for what she had caused to Fairy Tail, to Levy and to Wendy.

Lucy knew what Erza had said, that they would save Wendy once a sound plan was in place, and that had placated Bambietta at the time. Now however, Lucy could only watch as the Quincy was pacing back and forth across the guild halls' floor. Lucy could see it clearly, that Bambietta was incredibly agitated yet trying desperately to keep it restrained and bottled up. It was a noble attempt, yes, but Lucy knew her roommate well enough. Bambietta had to unleash herself in some from before she would inevitably explode.

That was something Lucy did not want to see. Not out of fear or any such reason, but simply because she did not like seeing her friend in pain. However, deep down did the wizard begin to wonder if there was more to it than that.

Lucy began to walk towards Bambietta then, questioning her own desires all the while. She liked Bambietta, she truly did, but Lucy was beginning to wonder just how much. They got along, yes, but there was something of herself that the Quincy was keeping locked away. It was something Lucy wanted to know of, to understand, but she also knew she had to wait until Bambietta was willing to broach that unknown frontier herself.

For now all Lucy could do was speak with her, to calm her nerves. To that end, she moved towards Bambietta, preparing to speak. Yet that too would have to wait, as another's voice called out and cancelled out Lucy's own.

"Members of Fairy Tail," Erza Scarlet suddenly said as she, Levy and Liltotto exited the guild master's room, "one of our own was been kidnapped two hours ago. Wendy Marvell was entrusted to our care by Cait Shelter and now she has been taken by Phantom Lord. I know some of you are probably asking why we have not gone to rescue her yet, but I assure you that I will not allow this transgression to stand, However, I would be remiss to allow us to fall to that guild's tricks once more. To that end, Levy, Liltotto and I have been speaking amongst ourselves. I believe we have a proper strategy to deal with whatever we will face in Oak Town."

Bambietta instantly gravitated towards the trio, not even realizing that Lucy had been so close to reaching out towards her, the Quincy hungry for battle. No, she had to correct herself, that was not all. She had to save Wendy. That was the only thing she knew she had to keep in mind. The committing of violence was simply a bonus. A welcome bonus, especially if she found herself face to face with Hanza.

"Now then," Erza said, "the plan is-"

The armored mage's battle strategy was quickly cut short by the sound of the guild hall's doors opening. All took notice of it, particularly Bambietta as she was on edge from anxiousness.

If it was an enemy, another attack from Phantom Lord, she was ready to meet it head on.

Yet her desire for violence quickly faded as she saw Wendy Marvell come into sight. The young girl was standing in the doorway then, a look of relief on her face. Relief at being back among the guild that had taken her in for a time.

Bambietta was quick to move, Hirenkyaku taking her right to Wendy. The Quincy quickly went down to one knee, her arms wrapping around the Sky Dragon Slayer so tightly that her eyes began to open wide in surprise.

"Wendy! You're okay!" Bambietta laughed a little as she held the young girl who had been left in her care tightly. "You have no idea how worried I was! How worried we all were! I-"

Bambietta saw it then, Totomaru of the Conflagration and a woman she did not recognize by his side. It did not take long for the Quincy to consider this newcomer another member of Phantom Lord. She pulled Wendy back then with one quick step back into the guild hall. Then she used Hirenkyaku to lunge forward once more, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the two wizards from Phantom Lord.

"I don't know what this is about," Bambietta hissed, "but I'm ready to fight if you-"

"Bambi." The Quincy stopped speaking her threat then, feeling two little hands take hold of her own. She looked down her right side and could see that Wendy had been quick to return, her eyes pleading as she looked up at Bambietta. "Don't be mad at them. Mister Totomaru and Miss Juvia... They brought me back here."

Bambietta began to calm down in response then, yet she kept a wary eye upon Totomaru and Juvia. "I... I should say thank you."

Totomaru returned Bambietta's gaze, the wizard knowing that as a member of Phantom Lord he probably deserved it, but that did not make him like it any less. "That would be the nice thing to do, ye-"

"What Totomaru means to say," Juvia suddenly interrupted as she moved before the man, "is your welcome." The blue haired woman looked at Wendy tried her best to smile, something that seemed almost foreign to her, for the rest of Juvia's face looked as downtrodden and melancholic despite her lips curling up. "Now Wendy, why don't you go and say hello to all of your guild mates. I'm sure this... charming lady wasn't the only one worried about you."

"Okay." Wendy was unsure of why she was being asked to leave, the young girl quickly realizing that it was more than likely about adult stuff. She walked away then, moving towards Lucy and Levy. Yet as she did so, Erza walked past her.

"Your guild kidnapped Wendy," the armored mage said, "and now you bring her back. I appreciate the sentiment, but I share Bambietta's concerns."

"Of course you would," Totomaru whispered. "What a freaking mess this all is."

"We... We had to help her," Juvia said. "She... she escaped from our guild hall and Master Jose instructed us... He..."

Bambietta was growing impatient. "What?"

Totomaru placed a comforting hand upon Juvia's shoulder as he prepared himself to finish what she could not. "He demanded that Juvia and I find Wendy... and kill her."

Bambietta suddenly felt her soul calm alive, a quiet fury igniting within her. She tried so very hard to keep it controlled, yet her attempts could only go so far. Her teeth began to grit together harshly behind her closed lips, her fingers curling into the palms of her shaking hands.

"Something is very wrong with Master Jose," Totomaru said. "The person who took me into Phantom Lord... he was a better man than this. I don't know what to do anymore. I can't fight him, but I can't support this insanity. That's why..."

"This has gone too far," Juvia said matter-of-factly. "That is why Totomaru and I made certain to contact the Magic Council once we arrived here in Magnolia with Wendy. Master Jose has gone too far." The already dour woman lowered her head then, her lips trembling slightly. "Our guild has gone too far."

"Well," Bambietta said with some degree of nervousness in her voice, the Quincy unsure of how to deal with the potential for this rather somber woman breaking down in front of her, "that was awfully smart of you two. We probably should have done that ourselves now that I think about it..."

Bambietta noticed it then, the town of Magnolia suddenly becoming enveloped in a torrential downpour. She watched on as the darkened skies unleashed an onslaught of rain that continued to splatter against the homes and stonework of the roadways.

"Okay, seriously," Bambietta mumbled. "This is hardly the time for the dark and stormy night motif. Wendy's back and the Magic Council is going to save the day. This is so unfitting..."

"It's just..." Juvia began to sniff back, as if trying to reign herself in. "My home is..."

"It's all right, Juvia," Totomaru said as he moved towards her. "I'm sure when everything's settled down that Master Jose will come to his senses."

"Sure, it'll be that simple," Liltotto muttered from not far away. "Whenever a leader starts to worry his subordinates and make them fear for their safety, things always turn out okay."

Bambietta looked to her friend then, noting how depressed Liltotto was becoming. It was clear as day what Liltotto was recalling, Bambietta remembering well what she had told her about in relation to the Auschwalen. Bambietta knew she had to cheer Liltotto up, but she could also see the general moody nature that was Juvia.

Bambietta's internal thoughts stopped then, the Quincy realizing that she had actually worried about cheering up a total stranger. That was not right as far as she was concerned, and yet she knew she owed Juvia and Totomaru both for bringing back Wendy.

"Hey," Wendy suddenly said. "Has anyone seen Carla?"

Bambietta's eyes began to widen then, the Quincy realizing that she had all but forgotten the uptight cat.

"Bambi," Liltotto said as she suddenly moved closer to her friend, "the cute little kitty wasn't kidnapped by Phantom Lord too?"

"Oh. Oh, crap." Bambietta could picture it well before her mind's eye. Hanza striking Carla away before he had taken off with Wendy and provoked Bambietta into chasing him. "I, uh, guess I forgot to follow up on that."

Wendy continued to look around frantically, all the while Liltotto was glaring at Bambietta. "Bambi, what happened to-"

The question that Liltotto was about to ask was cut short then, the doorway of the guild hall slowly creeping open. Carla began to scamper into the building then, the cat rubbing her head with one paw, her entire body soaked to the bone.

"Carla!" Wendy cried out as she moved towards her closest friend, scooping the cat into her arms. "Are you okay?"

"Good heavens, first I was left for to fend for myself after crashing into a house," the cat whimpered, "and when I finally came to, the sky opened up and rained on me."

Bambietta and Juvia both glanced down to the floor and spoke in unison. "Sorry."

"I'm just glad you are all right, Wendy," Carla continued to say. "I suppose I can accept being ignored if it meant someone was rescuing you."

"Yeah, let's go with that," Bambietta whispered, her face flush with a degree of embarrassment. "My heart was in the right place I guess."

Carla glanced at Bambietta, staring from perch within Wendy's arms. "I suppose that will do." Closing her eyes for a moment, Carla simply began to purr as Wendy held her tightly.

"Again, I would like to thank you for bringing Wendy back to us," Erza said as she looked upon both Totomaru and Juvia. "Though I can only assume that your guild may attack us again before the Magic Council can intervene. I will not ask you to fight against your own, but I hope that you two will also stay away from aiding Phantom Lord as well."

"It's true that neither one of us will fight for Phantom Lord," Totomaru began to reply, "not now. And while I would never fight any of my own family, I do wish to speak with Master Jose. Perhaps Juvia and I can reach him, to bring him back to his senses."

"And if negotiations fail," Bambietta whispered as she looked out at the magical downpour of negativity that was continuing to rain upon Magnolia, "I'm sure Juvia here could drown Jose in her sorrows."


Jose Porla was not one for the taste of alcohol. No, not at all. He recalled well the last time he had consumed too much of it, both himself and Makarov Dreyer losing themselves to foolishness at a guild master's meeting.

However, Jose's nerves were shot now, his mind frayed and irritated beyond measure. Despite all his success as of late, he was vexed. Fairy Tail's home was destroyed, their master beaten. They had been forced to retreat from a battle they had instigated. Yet despite it all, things were not as they should have been. His Dragon Slayer had been defeated and taken away and now his attempt at taking a Dragon Slayer from Fairy Tail had been thwarted. She was heading back to the guild, Jason Joker nowhere to be found. Worse of all, however, was that Lucy Heartfilia was not in his grasp.

So, despite his distaste for alcohol, Jose was letting a glass of fine champagne make contact with his lips as he sat upon his throne. He needed this if only to keep his calm, to allow him the moment of respite so that he would not lash out against any within his guild.

Yet his peace was disturbed when Hanza Nukui appeared before him, having seemingly walked out of the shadows. The man knelt down then, keeping his face angled towards the stone floor.

"Master Jose," Hanza said softly, "I bring troubling news."

Jose stopped what he was doing then and there, the glass of champagne barely an inch from his lips. He looked at Hanza then, trying hard to contain himself. "Speak."

"You instructed me to bring the Sky Dragon Slayer to our guild hall," Hanza began to say. "And I failed to take in account the truth behind your orders for Gajeel Redfox. So... I took this task to heart. I knew you allowed both Totomaru the Conflagration and Juvia of the Deep to find the escaped child themselves, but... I took it upon myself to find her as well. As the one you trusted to bring her here, I felt it was my responsibility to find her myself."

While Jose was displeased to find out a member of his guild had acted on their own prerogative, he could not fault Hanza's reasons. "Very well. So why then have you come here on your own."

"Totomaru and Juvia found the Sky Dragon Slayer," Hanza said with some degree of hesitancy, "and they brought her to Fairy Tail."

Jose was quiet for a moment then, his arm slowly moving down to rest on his side of his chair. Then did he speak, his voice possessing a calmness that concerned Hanza. "So then, they have betrayed me."

Hanza raised his head then, looking at the man he now served. It was a sight that unnerved him. Jose's eyes had darkened, a strange power flowing forth from them, a stark contrast to his white teeth, the two rows of them locked together in a hellish grin as his lips curled back.

"My Iron Dragon Slayer has been taken from me," Jose hissed through his gritted teeth, "and now two of my finest wizards have abandoned me for Fairy Tail?"

Jose's right hand instinctively tightened, shattered the glass within it. The shards exploded outwards, slicing through both flesh and air, blood mixing with the alcohol as Jose began to stand to his full height.

"This will not stand!" the guild master cried out. "Hanza, inform the others! We are going to Magnolia at once!"

Hanza nodded in return, the shinobi feeling his skin crawl in response to the strange power radiating from his guild master. Then he was gone, once more slipping back into the shadows.

Jose stood alone then, his cruel smile remaining. "Fairy Tail will fall this day! Those who have betrayed me will suffer! And the Heartfilia family fortune will at last belong to me!"


If there was one thing in the world that Erza Scarlet was not particularly fond of, it was waiting while unable to determine the proper course of action. Up until now had the conflict with Phantom Lord been a simple matter to react to. They were attacked and they fought back. A guild mate was kidnapped and they had been prepared to retrieve her.

Now however, she was caught in a web of inaction. No doubt would the Magic Council take care of this matter in due time, so Fairy Tail would stay its hand. Yet Erza could not help but feel the slightest bit anxious as she paced across the creaking floorboards of the guild hall.

Fairy Tail had been reactive time and again as they faced Phantom Lord's plans and it had cost them dearly. Erza had to wonder if a proactive stance was necessary.

No, she knew that was a foolish thought after what had happened. Makarov's emotions, his rage, had been reactive, yes, but his attack on Phantom Lord's guild hall in response had been a matter of stepping forward. Erza knew she respected Makarov greatly, yet at the same time she could clearly see the folly of his actions that day.

She would simply have to trust the Magic Council. No matter how difficult it was, no matter how much the likes of Siegrain concerned her, she would have to put her faith in the organization. This was not about her. This was about the good of her guild. Her family.

Trying to shake herself free of her thoughts, Erza tried to focus on something, anything else. She knew she could have gone home to rest for a time or to pay a visit to her favorite bakery in town. Anything would have been better than to let herself dwell on the crisis that had consumed Fairy Tail. Yet she knew she could do no such thing. As much as she was willing to trust Totomaru and Juvia, she was not inclined to simply leave them alone and around her guild mates. Then there was the matter of Gajeel still being on the premises.

"Hey, Erza?" The armored mage heard it then, someone speaking to her. She turned and found herself face to face with . "You all right?"

"For now things are fine," Erza said. "I hope. But... I'm surprised you're still here."

Erza knew it well, that the situation had been rough on all at Fairy Tail. However, she also knew that one of the newest members, Bambietta Basterbine, had been taking things roughly. Erza was happy to see that the Quincy had kept her cool despite those she had grown close to being hurt and kidnapped, but she had also understood when Bambietta had asked if she could step away from the guild for a time. Lucy, Levy and Wendy had gone with her then but there had been one other Erza had expected to leave with the Quincy.

Liltotto raised an eyebrow in response to Erza's statement, the Quincy unsure of what to make of it. "Why's that?"

"I would have thought you'd go with Bambietta," Erza continued. "I meant nothing more."

"She's Lucy, Levy and Wendy," Liltotto replied, lowering her head a bit in response. "She's happy enough as is. And I... I'm happy enough being here to."

Now it was Erza's turn to cock an eyebrow in regards to what she had just heard. "Oh?"

Liltotto's feet began to shuffle, the Quincy turning to look away from Erza for the moment, allowing herself to instead gaze upon her fellow guild members. For the first time since the Phantom Lord situation had begun, they all looked truly happy. No doubt it was due to Totomaru and Juvia's statement that the Magic Council was getting involved, but whatever the case was, they were all content. Laughing amongst themselves or simply smiling, it was a welcome sight.

"Erza," Liltotto began to say at last, "I've never seen Bambietta so happy as she's been here, but... I'll be honest, I've never been this happy either."

Erza could hear it well enough, a pervading sense of joy in Liltotto's tone of voice, one that was proof of her feelings. Yet there was something else, a sorrow buried beneath the inflection of her voice. As if that was not concern enough, Erza could see that Liltotto's head was tilting down further, the Quincy looking towards the floor as her right arm began to move upwards, Liltotto's hand clutching at the opposing arm.

"Liltotto Lamperd," Erza said as she moved closer to the Quincy and placed a comforting hand upon her shoulder, "I'm glad you and Bambietta are content here, but surely despite whatever problems there were, the... guild you were once a part of brought you some joy."

"Yes, but..." Liltotto was struggling to find the words. "It led to hurt. Hurt that... this place had to fix."

Erza understood what she meant, having recalled particularly the conversations she had had with both Liltotto and Bambietta in recent times. Still, she did not want to imagine this young woman had experienced no joy without reservations in her past. "But before that, you must have-"

"What?" Liltotto's voice suddenly sparked, a veiled irritation evident within her sudden shift in tone. "I must have had a happy family? I wish, but unlike Fairy Tail... I wasn't wanted. Even the Vandenreich wanted me."

Erza's eyes began to waver a bit, the mage growing mad at herself. She had tried to console this Quincy, but all she had done was cause more pain. "Liltotto, I'm sorry."

"They could never provide for me or my sister," Liltotto continued. "Too much debt and never a decent meal on the table. And then... they wanted to sell me to clear some of that debt. My sister... she went in place. But it didn't matter. In the end my parents simply sold me into slavery when the debt became too high again."

Erza was glad then that Liltotto was facing away from her, the wizard struggling to contain her rage at what she was hearing. Her body was shaking ever-so-slightly, her teeth gritting behind closed lips.

"But you know what?" Liltotto asked, a faint smile playing across her face. "I was happy. My parents didn't want me, so why should I care if I couldn't see them anymore? And I.. I'd get to see my sister again."

Liltotto's smile faded then, her eyes closing as she gripped at opposing arms with both her hands.

"But then the slave traders told me that... that my sister had been worked to exhaustion. Starving and weak, she had died the week before I had been taken in."

Liltotto began to tremble then, the Quincy unable to contain herself any longer. Memories she had kept hidden for far too long were taking a toll on her, leaving tears to stream down her face. Taking notice of exactly that, Erza circled around the Quincy. She wrapped her arms around Liltotto and pulled her in gently, holding her steady.

"Erza," Liltotto whispered. "I..."

"It's all right," Erza replied softly. "Let it all out."

Liltotto's lips trembled for a moment, the Quincy trying so very hard to compose herself. "All I wanted was my big sister back, but I knew that couldn't happen. If that was the case, I just wanted to die. Like her. So I stopped eating. If the work wouldn't kill me, then I just wanted to starve to death. And then..."

"Such a frail child. And yet I sense such power in you. Come with me and I promise that you will strike against this cruel world and beyond. And you will never go hungry again. For food or for family."

"Sweet lies," Liltotto whispered, "but here in Fairy Tail it's the truth. That's why I... I won't let anyone hurt this guild. Not Phantom Lord or anyone else."

"I appreciate the sentiment," Erza said. "But I assure you, everything's going to be fine."

Liltotto closed her eyes for a moment, the Quincy losing herself in both the present moment as well as the past. She held tightly to Erza then, surrendering to the gentle embrace. Liltotto spoke then, barely a whisper that she hoped the wizard would not hear. "That's what my big sister said too..."


Bambietta Basterbine knew better than to relax. Despite the relief that the thought of the Magic Council intervening in the Phantom Lord situation, she had little desire to trust in higher powers. Rarely had it gone in her favor and she also had reservations one particular member of the overseers of the magic world.

Siegrain. The man simply concerned Bambietta, the Quincy having seen how Erza reacted to his presence back in Era.

Still, for now, she was trying her best to be content. Wendy Marvell was back in Magnolia and both Lucy and Levy were safe. That had to be enough for Bambietta for the time being.

However, the Quincy had not felt it was enough for Wendy. Which was precisely why Bambietta had taken her to Willy Wilder's Pure Imagination. After all, Levy had all but assured her was the best ice cream stands in all of Magnolia. Judging by the content expression on Wendy's face as she continued to gobble up the neopolitan ice cream, Bambietta had to guess that her friend was right.

"Thank you, Bambi," Wendy said with a smile as she finished off the last spoonful that the bowl before her could provide. "But I'm sorry for making you wor-"

Bambietta was quick to cut off Wendy, placing an index finger upon her lips. "Ah, ah, ah. What did I say about apologizing so often? Besides, I'm allowed to worry when the big bad guild with the evil sounding name kidnaps you. The jerks."

"Okay," Wendy said with some degree of hesitancy. "About that, I should tell you-"

"Hey!" Bambietta shouted as she once more cut off Wendy. The Quincy was standing up quite suddenly and making her way to the counter and the man behind it. "Big Willie Style! My little buddy here could do with another round of ice cream on me!"

"N-no, I'm fine," Wendy interjected. "If I have any more ice cream, I'm going to bust out everywhere..." The Sky Dragon Slayer's eyes darted from Bambietta to Lucy and then back to the Quincy again before she mumbled under her breath. "Everywhere but my bust."

Both the Quincy and the Celestial Spirit mage did not catch a word out of Wendy but Levy, sitting right beside her and not across the table, did. She planted a hand atop the Sky Dragon Slayer's shoulder. "There, there. You get used to it."

"Here we go," Bambietta said as she came back to the table and placed the bowl of neopolitan ice cream before Wendy. "Dig in."

"Well, okay." Wendy did just that, her sweet tooth playing against any worries she had in regards to weight for the time being. She did not want to reject Bambietta's attempts at welcoming her back to Magnolia after all. Still, Wendy knew she would have to tell her about her savior, the woman who had called herself Giselle. Yet she just could not resist the ice cream. Surely she could tell Bambietta about her friend later.

Bambietta, meanwhile, was simply trying to enjoy the moment for what it was. Things were all right despite some of the reservations she felt about the Magic Council resolving this matter. However, despite it all, the stress of recent times was eating at Bambietta. It was one reason she was a bit disappointed that there would not be another fight with Phantom Lord. Surely some violence would allow her the chance to work out her frustrations and calm down. It always had worked in the past. The battle with Gajeel had helped, yes, but Bambietta felt she needed more.

She also knew there was one other solution she could take to calm her nerves, to make her focused and able to discard her frustrations. It was so simple, a method she had employed time and time again. All it would take would be the life of a random stranger.

Bambietta simply blinked in response to the thought that had drifted within the depths of her mind. Such a desire had not come to her in a long time now, the Quincy having known better. No, it was not that. At first it had simply been a matter of her strength not being at a level where she could set the rules for herself. Now however, there was something else.

Bambietta watched as Lucy and Levy laughed, Wendy having gotten some ice cream on her nose. At first the Dragon Slayer was embarrassed, but she too began to laugh as she wiped it away with a napkin. Bambietta chuckled as well, the Quincy knowing full well what she would sacrifice if she dared to succumb to her worse nature.

If she wanted to keep what she had, then she would have to deny who she truly was. For every day, every hour, every minute and every second of her life. She could not bear the risk of her friends disowning her if they understood the wolf they had let into their midst.

So Bambietta tucked away that bloodthirsty impulse, knowing it had no place in the here and now. She would simply have to find a new recourse to curb her dark heart, to put it to good use. Once things had truly settled down, she would simply have to find a job request that would let her cut loose. Perhaps the volcano demon mission she had been eyeing time and time again.

"Now then," the Quincy said as she looked towards Wendy and adorned her face with the brightest smile possible, "who's up for thirds?"


Emberella Rhodopis was alone in the darkness, her chosen apartment within the city of Magnolia a quaint one. There was little amongst the odd assortment of furniture that had been left by a previous tenant. All that truly belonged to the woman was several sets of clothes and one simple and worn photograph framed in a chipped and aged frame. It was not the most elaborate of picture frames, not in the least, but it was the thoughts and memories that it symbolized that truly counted.

That precisely was why Emberella was staring at it while she sat on the edge of her bed. For the first time in several days she could simply be herself, the disguise that Ultear had granted her having slipped away as the need for deception was gone for a time. It was a relief to Emberella, yet at the same time she had to wonder if it even truly mattered.

Her eyes unmoving, she simply stared at the picture, remembering happier times. However, she also had to wonder why did it even matter to her? Those good times were gone, nothing more than a fleeting memory.

Closing her eyes for a moment, Emberella stood from her bed and began to rifle a hand through the pocket on the left side of her pants. From it she withdrew a small shard of lacrima and placed it on the dresser. A spark of magic issued forth from the woman's fingertips, all but igniting the power with the lacrima. Then did a light issue forth from the lacrima, one that began to take shape and color.

"You're late," Ultear said as she came into view, her eyes glaring towards Emberella. "Did I not tell you I expected a report at eleven o' clock sharp each and every day?"

"Now, now, Ultear," Siegrain said as a projection of him appeared by beside the woman, resting a hand atop her shoulder, "not everyone can be quite as punctual with time as you. I'm sure we allot our dear spy a five minute delay with all that has been going on."

"My thanks, Master Siegrain," Emberella replied with a slight nod towards the hologram. "As for my report, I do believe this battle between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord may be coming to an abrupt end. Two members of the opposing guild have apparently had enough and gotten word to the Magic Council of what's been going on."

"That's a shame," Siegrain said with a slight shrug, "but I suppose it can't be helped. And after all the trouble I went towards trying to keep the council occupied elsewhere while Jose Porla acted the part of a mad fool. I suppose then both he and I have been denied the Fairy Tail wizards we want in our possession most. And I had so hoped he would be able to deliver her to me when the dust settled."

"Surely you know what is going on at Phantom Lord as well," Emberella replied. "You could force Jose to continue to squander his guild in this insane gambit of his."

"I'm afraid that is not an option," Ultear suddenly interjected. "I've lost contact with Jason, so Phantom Lord is out of our hands now."

"I never did like that creep." It was true enough. Emberella had only met Jason Joker once before while in the employ of Siegrain and he had proved himself a man who's cruelty surely eclipsed her own. Still, he had proven himself a helpful ally. While she had slipped into the ranks of Fairy Tail, he too had managed to become a part of Phantom Lord. The only difference was the matter of their objectives. While Emberella was simply to observe, waiting for her own moment to strike at the Quincy who had taken her guild from her, Jason had a decidedly different mission. "I suppose he cannot help you keep a hold on the darkness in Jose Porla."

"No," Siegrain said with a slight sigh. "His belief in his own power and the darkness festering within his heart had made him a decidedly worthy puppet for our cause. Even a Wizard Saint can be restrained if he possesses the proper weaknesses, but I suppose we'll have to do without Jason utilizing Ultear's spell to keep him under control."

"This does cause a problem though," Ultear said. "Two in fact. Even if the spell is no longer in effect if Jason has abandoned his post, Jose's madness will linger still. And worst of all..."

"The Magic Council," Emberella whispered, her eyes widening a bit.

"Yes, this is a concern," Siegrain said rather quietly. If the Magic Council were to apprehend Jose Porla and learn of what I have been up to, that would prove problematic."

Emberella considered for a moment what she could do, yet she was not foolhardy enough to offer her services towards the goal of killing Jose Porla to silence him. He was a Wizard Saint though.

"Such a bother," Siegrain suddenly said. "I suppose I will have to resolve this matter personally."

Emberella's eyes truly widened in response to that bold statement. "Master Siegrain, are you serious. You yourself are a Wizard Saint! Such a confrontation could be disastrous for us all."

"I don't imagine it can be helped," Siegrain replied. "Though I suppose we still have a little time before such a matter becomes necessary."

Emberella was about to speak once more, the wizard stopping only when she began to feel a tremor run across her body, her apartment shaking violently. "What the hell is going on?"


Bambietta was grinning ear to ear, the Quincy ready and raring to fight. Her attempts at relaxing like a reasonable, civilized person had gone well enough, yet now she was beginning to see that peace was never an option. Tremors had begun to spread across all of Magnolia and in turn Bambietta had sped out of the ice cream shop with Hirenkyaku. Now she was running through the streets of Magnolia, heading towards the outskirts of the town, her spiritual senses guiding her towards the sources of magical power nearby.

"Please be some giant monsters! Please be some giant monsters! Momma could use a perchance to be adorably violent!"

Yet as Bambietta cleared the edge of Magnolia, she stopped dead in her tracks. There was something large approaching, yes, but it was not a monster in any way, shape or form.

The Quincy blinked for a moment, her mouth hanging open in awe. Then did she scream. "What the fuck is that supposed to be?"

Bambietta's delusions began to shatter, the mental images of her fighting and standing victoriously over the likes of giant gorillas, fire breathing tortoises, birds bigger than any mere battleship and radioactive dinosaurs shattering like glass. Her expectations were destroyed, her thoughts confused.

Bambietta shook her head for a moment, the Quincy rubbing her eyes. Surely she was seeing things. Surely she was not seeing something so ridiculous. Yet, as Bambietta regained her focus and looked forward, she could see that what was before her was no careless product of a wild imagination.

There was a castle walking towards Magnolia on mechanical legs.

"Again," Bambietta began to shout, "what the ever-loving fuck!"

"It's Phantom Lord's guild hall," Erza Scarlet said as she suddenly appeared by Bambietta's side, the mage's arms crossed, her expression stern and taciturn.

"Uh huh." Bambietta rubbed several fingers against the space between her eyes. "You say that with such a straight face that I just have to accept that this is normal, right?"

"I assure you, Bambietta, that our guild hall is far from normal."

The Quincy turned to catch sight of all of Fairy Tail fast approaching, the lot of them exiting Magnolia and standing before the strange new foe that was coming closer. Yet it was Totomaru and Juvia both who were stepping the closest, the fire mage speaking up.

"Master Jose has always been a little eccentric," Totomaru said as he moved towards Bambietta and Erza both, the lot of them staring up at the approaching castle.

"Well, so's Erza," Bambietta replied. "Beneath that serious demeanor lies the mind of a goofball. Fairy Tail is what it is."

If Erza heard what Bambietta said, let alone take any offense to it, she did not outwardly show it. She simply looked up at the Phantom Lord guild hall, her eyes never wavering. "I wish to apology in advance, Totomaru and Juvia of Phantom Lord, but I believe your contacting the Magic Council might have been too late."

The Phantom Lord guild hall came to a sudden stop then, the front wall beginning to slide open. As it did so, a nervous sweat began to form on both Totomaru and Juvia's faces.

"Master Jose," Juvia whispered. "He wouldn't dare..."

A massive cannon began to slide out from the mobile guild hall, a pale violet glow beginning to surround it. Those of Fairy Tail could feel a vibration in the air, a low hum beginning to echo across the land.

"That... fool!" Erza's eyes widened in shock. "Phantom Lord possesses a Jupiter Cannon!"

"A what now?" Bambietta did not know what the term or title Jupiter had to do with things on this world, but the Quincy knew full well that a cannon was not a good thing. Still, she was curious despite the situation they were in. "Come on, anyone want to clue in the Quincy? Seriously, I'll make it worth someone's while..."

"It's a devastating weapon," Liltotto said as she appeared beside Bambietta's side. "One capable of wiping out an entire army and the area around them. I just... never expected a legal guild would have one."

Bambietta looked down at Liltotto and instantly felt her body seize up. Where once there would be an impassive expression devoid of any concern, Bambietta could see on Liltotto's face a proclaimed amount of concern. "Lil?"

The blonde Quincy began to speak then, her voice wavering a slight bit. "Bambi, we have to-"

"Master Jose!" Totomaru suddenly ran forward, his voice cracking as he cried out in desperation. "Master Jose! Please! You can't have fallen so far! What happened to the man who took me? The man who gave me a home and a purpose! Answer me!"


High atop the Phantom Lord guild hall, Jose Porla stared down at those he considered his enemies. His skin was tingling, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end thanks to the magic in the air sparking as it reacted to the Jupiter Cannon.

"Totomaru."

Jose stared down at both Totomaru and Juvia, his eyes focusing on the fire mage in particularly. He could not hear his voice, not in the least, but he could just barely see the frantic body language, the panicked expression on his face.

Jose's hardened expression began to fade for a moment, the corners of his lips falling. Yet it did not last long. Soon his eyes came ablaze with a glowing darkness, his teeth baring as a cruel grin spread across his face. The guild master threw his arms out to the sides then, his voice bellowing towards those behind him who were manning the Jupiter Cannon.

"Fire! Scorch the earth and let neither fairy nor traitor survive!"


For Liltotto Lamperd, time had slowed to a crawl. Her sense of perception off, it was as if she was lost in a tunnel, her eyes and ears fixated on so little and yet at the same time so much more than she could take.

Totomaru screaming to the man he most admired, his pleas falling on death ears as a violent light began to fire forth from the Jupiter Cannon that was under Jose Porla's command.

There was no doubt panicking and terrified noise around Liltotto, but all she could hear was the fearful reactions of both Totomaru and Juvia. The shock and rage of those who had been thrown aside by their own master.

"What were we to you!?"

Liltotto's heart stopped for a moment, the Quincy's teeth gritting together. Past memories of being thrown aside by the man she had revered as a god and savior gnawed at her mind. The present began to fade and all that Liltotto could experience was the past. Emotions began to cloud her mind, her judgment, rationality and intellect falling by the wayside.

"Jose Porla, you would dare to turn your power against your comrades? Do you have no honor?"

Those words tore at Liltotto's mind, forcing her to snap back to reality. Time was no longer slowed, her perceptions focused once more. She could see it, Erza Scarlet moving before her guild, her body becoming encircled by magic. Her armor and clothing vanished, being replaced by a much more majestic and bulky suit of armor. Azure and silver plating covered her body now, massive shields extending from her gauntlets.

"Erza! You can't do this!" Levy shouted from the crowd of on looking Fairy Tail wizards. "You're Adamantine Armor can't withstand a Jupiter Blast!"

"I'd gladly sacrifice my life if it meant my comrades would survive!" Erza shouted in swung her arms forward, the shields coming together. A spark of energy formed them, giving rise to a massive emerald magic circle before Erza. It crackled with power, as if it was the personification of Erza's will and determination. "Jose Porla! I will not allow you to hurt all I hold dear!"

Liltotto watched then as the Jupiter Cannon fired forth, the tremendous force echoing across the land, leaving all who could hear it to feel their eardrums threaten to burst. Erza stood her ground however, her face one of unyielding will.

Then did the beam strike her shield, the collision of magic causing a shockwave. Yet still Erza stood defiantly, her face showing an ungodly strain as she held her ground. She was pouring all of her magic power and resolve into the magic circle she had created, determined to hold the line. Her feet dug into the ground then, struggling to find purchase.

"Erza!"

It was Natsu. Liltotto could hear him scream from afar, the Dragon Slayer as worried as Levy had been. As worried as Liltotto herself was. She was sacrificing her life, wasn't she? Liltotto felt her skin grow cold, her thoughts dimming.

"I stood over one dying friend already," Liltotto whispered. "And I... I had to watch as all my comrades died around me. And I..."

Liltotto's hands closed into shaking fists, the Quincy snapping her head forward so that she could see the struggle between Erza and the Jupiter Cannon.

"I won't let it happen again!" Bring her arms forward, Liltotto extended her left arm outwards as her right hand clasped down upon it. Her fingers spread outwards then as magic power drew into her body, becoming one with her own spiritual presence. "Heavenly bonds fused with thy skin! Light that pierces through the darkened clouds! I sacrifice my desires to thee and ask that you shield the souls of the scorned! Become one with my heart, one with my mind and hold back hell itself! Gottes Querschild!"

Liltotto screamed them as her spiritual strength blazed around her, only to fade away as fast as it had formed. Yet it had not been in vain. The spell had been cast, the toll on her soul unbearable. Yet still it had been successful. Upon Liltotto's command a pale blue light shone between Erza and her shield, a massive cross of power forming, one that came close to dwarfing the Adamantine Armor's magic circle.

It was precisely in nick of time. The emerald magic circle was cracking, splintering, and soon did it shattered. The violet power of the Jupiter Cannon pierced through, stopped only by the barrier that the Quincy had made.


"What's this?"

Jose Porla watched on from high above, his curiosity piqued. Deranged as he had become, he was still a strategist at heart. He never would have allowed harm to come to Lucy Heartfilia, not when his objective had been so close. So he had gambled and won. Erza Scarlet had acted just as he had hoped she would, trying to sacrifice herself for the good of her guild. Her death was all that concerned Jose now. She was the single greatest threat to his guild on the battlefield and she needed to be eliminated so that there was nothing that Wendy Marvell could heal. Then Fairy Tail itself would have been demoralized. They would have been easy pickings for Phantom Lord to conquer as they stood in shock of their savior being reduced to so much ash.

It had been going so very well, Jose having derived great pleasure when the vaunted Adamantine Barrier had fallen. Yet now another of Makarov's accursed children had intervened, another spell attempting to hold back the line. It vexed Jose greatly, his temper flaring.

"You damned fools," he hissed. "I won't allow you to besmirch my guild any more than you have already! Phantom Lord is the greatest guild Fiore has ever seen and we will only ascend to greater heights once our business here is concluded! So fall and let me reach towards the future!"


There was many things Bambietta had seen in her life, some she wished she could forget. However, witnessing Liltotto fall into both determination and unflinching rage was something she had not come across until now.

"Lil?"

The young Quincy's body was trembling, sweat pouring off her face as she grit her teeth so tightly that Bambietta had to wonder if they were chipping or on the verge of breaking. Yet Liltotto did not budge, did not falter. Her spiritual powers flowed out further, the Quincy trying to draw on whatever magic around that she could. She was putting absolutely everything into the barrier she had created.

It was one of Yhwach's favorite techniques, Bambietta could see that much. A spell fit for an elder Quincy, one that the emperor had been able to cast without a single word of an incantation. What Bambietta was seeing now was no doubt a product of Liltotto's research into the tome that Robert Accutrone had sent them in recent memory. Liltotto had always been an ardent student despite her outward lazy personality, but Bambietta could see now that her friend was pushing herself far too hard.

"That's enough, Lil!" Bambietta screamed. "Your body can't handle this! You're soul-"

"It doesn't matter!" Liltotto screamed back, her voice becoming hoarse, blood forming in her throat. "I promised that I would protect you from now on, Bambietta! You and..."

Liltotto's mind became embroiled in the past, both of long ago and recent times. She could see Natsu looking at her with a warm and comforting smile.

"Revolted? Why would I be? I wish I could do what you do! Hey, it's magic! Can you teach me? Can you?"

Then it was gone, replaced instead by Bambietta as she looked happier than Liltotto could scarcely remember.

"You and me? We're going to take destiny by the balls! We're going to be the center of attraction!"

Liltotto's lips curled back in a faint smile despite the stress that was threatening to break down her body and soul. This was a family like none she had ever seen. These were people that were worth fighting for. Them and...

"I appreciate the sentiment. But I assure you, everything's going to be fine."

Liltotto saw it, the stern yet oddly comforting expression that Erza Scarlet seemed to carry far too often.

"It will be! I swear it!" Liltotto screamed out, her body on the verge of collapse. She could see it then, cracks beginning to form in the cross of light she had formed, errant sparks of the Jupiter Cannon's magic seeping through. It only strengthened her resolve, Liltotto pouring as much spiritual power into backing her shield as she could. "I won't let you hurt any of them, Jose Porla! No matter the cost, I will save them from you, you self-serving son of a bitch!"

Liltotto suddenly found herself pitching forward then, blood spewing up from her mouth. Her knees buckles and she collapsed. In turn did her barrier, the Jupiter Cannon at last tearing it asunder.

"No..." Liltotto was left to watch helplessly as the violet storm of magic energy slammed into Erza then and there. "Erza!"

The mage cried out in pain in response, the energy dissipating around her as her armored cracked and shattered like so much paper. Her body was thrown back, hitting the ground and rolling until it at last came to a stop.

"No, I..." Liltotto's body was at its limit and she fell to the ground, her arm reaching out to the downed wizard she had tried so hard to save. "Erza, I... I failed you... You, Bambi and even my big sister, I..."

Liltotto could see that she and Erza had managed to protect the rest of Fairy Tail, Totomaru and Juvia. Yet it had cost them dearly. Liltotto's body was wracked with pain, her soul feeling like it was set aflame and spent all at the same time. Her own agony meant little to her though. She could see Erza, lying on the ground, unmoving. It was enough to leave her feeling truly dead inside.

"Bambi, I..." Liltotto felt it then, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "I couldn't save-"

Bambietta knelt down beside her friend, trying to help her up. "You did your best, Lil. That's all that-"

Bambietta stopped them, her spiritual senses alerting her to a faint trace of life that was growing stronger. The Quincy smiled then and she began to speak in a far more uplifting tone to Liltotto.

"Turn that big old frown upside down, Lil," Bambietta whispered gently. Bambietta moved aside and stopped blocking Liltotto's view then, allowing the fallen Quincy to see that Erza was worse for wear but was beginning to rise up to her feet.

"Erza, I..." Liltotto did just as Bambietta said, a faint smile spreading across her face. "Thank you... for living..."

"Now then, Bambietta said as she began to pat Liltotto on the top of her head, "that was all well, good and cool, but I'd like it if you kept your cool the next time you try and act like a big damn hero, you got me? I'm the resident overly emotional Quincy around here."

"Sure," Liltotto replied, "whatever you say. You can be the emotional train wreck all you want."

Bambietta puffed out her chest and smiled broadly as she closed her eyes. "That's just what I wanted to hea-" The Quincy's eyes suddenly opened up when it had dawned on her precisely what Liltotto had said. "Hey!"

Erza, meanwhile, began to move towards the two Quincy. Her body was battered and bloodied, yes, but she knew the damage could have been much more extensive. Still, despite her movement, her fellow guild mates showed concern.

"Erza, are you sure you should be moving?" Levy asked as she walked towards her.

"Please, just sit down," Wendy also said as she approached. "I can heal you no problem and then everything will be good, right?"

"In a minute," Erza said as she closer to the Quincy members of Fairy Tail and looked at Liltotto. "Thank you, Liltotto Lamperd."

Liltotto smiled a bit then despite her exhaustion, simply happy to see that Erza seemed to be in good spirits despite all that had happened. "I'm just... glad everyone's okay."

"Indeed." Erza reached out and placed a hand atop Liltotto's shoulder. "I reacted on instinct to protect my guild, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I appreciate your willingness to share that burden."

Wendy moved in close then and raised her hands, beginning to use her magic to heal Erza. Liltotto noticed it quickly, happy to know that the woman's injuries could be healed so that she could return to whatever battles awaited. However, Liltotto knew that she would have to wait a time. Her spiritual power was spent for the moment and there was no kind of healing that Wendy could perform to correct that. Liltotto would simply have to recharge on her own, drawing on the surrounding environments. Yet it did not matter. She was just content to know that everyone was all right.

"How touching!"

A voice bellowed out towards those of Fairy Tail, leaving Erza and all the others to look at the mobile Phantom Lord guild hall. It did not take Erza long at all to recognize the voice. "Jose."

"You sentimental fools really would walk barefoot through hell to protect each other!" the guild master shouted once more, his voice echoing forth from the guild hall's outer speakers. "It makes me sick! You and your entire guild! However, I am willing to spare you all any further pain!"

Erza furrowed her brow as she listened intently to the madman's proclamation. "What are you getting at, Jose Porla?"

Bambietta felt her body go numb then, the Quincy realizing in the back of her mind what the guild master was going to do.

"What am I getting at?" Jose called out from his castle. "It's quite simple, Erza Scarlet. You cannot stand against Phantom Lord! Not while we possess a Jupiter Cannon and the finest wizards known in all Fiore! But I will allow Fairy Tail to walk away in peace! You simply need to leave Lucy Heartfilia behind!"

Bambietta watched then as all those who called themselves Fairy Tail wizards began to turn their gaze upon Lucy, the lot of them clearly caught off guard by Jose's statement. Even the likes of Erza, Natsu and Gray, if only for a moment. Yet the armored mage turned her gaze back towards the Phantom Lord guild hall, never moving an inch.

"And why is she so important to you?" the mage asked simply enough.

"Don't you dare sound so judgmental, Erza Scarlet!" Jose's voice suddenly blasted from the speakers upon his castle, his tone belligerent and enraged. "I'm but a simple guild master taking it upon himself to complete a job request Phantom Lord received! I simply want to reunite a father with his estranged daughter!"

"A job request?" Erza stared up at the Phantom Lord guild hall, all the while trying to contain her rage. "You've done all of this for a reward? You've begun a war between guilds for a job request?"

Bambietta knew there was much more to it than that. The Quincy recalled well what the ransom note from Phantom Lord had said. There was no way the guild simply wanted a reward, not the way the message had been phrased. They wanted Lucy Heartfilia's 'lovey dovey money' after all. It could not simply be for a fraction of it, not to stoop to levels such as this.

That, however, was the least of Bambietta's concerns. Her mind was beginning to race now, the Quincy realizing what was going to happen. Fairy Tail had lost much in this war now. The guild hall had been destroyed, Shadow Gear hurt, Makarov disposed of, Wendy kidnapped and now the they were all faced with the prospect of facing down an entire guild and a Jupiter Cannon. Surely they would cut their losses and make Lucy a sacrificial lamb. It only made sense to hand her over to save themselves from further conflict and pain. The Vandenreich would have done so if push had come to shove, Bambietta knew that much. Giselle and the others had left her behind to fend for herself and reaped the benefits of her defeat. Yet that was not all. Liltotto had made it very clear that Yhwach had done the same to them all, having attempted to exchange their very lives to empower his elite forces.

It was going to happen again then, a comrade being thrown to the wolves for the sake of the whole. Bambietta would not let that happen. To hell with Fairy Tail then. She would escape with Lucy. Hirenkyaku would serve her well. She could get Lucy out of the battlefield and then return for the likes of Levy and Wendy. Surely Liltotto would make her own escape then, following suit when she saw what Bambietta was up to.

So Bambietta's body began to brace itself for high-speed movement, the Quincy's eyes settling on the clearly distraught Lucy. Her right foot began to step off from the ground, Bambietta ready to move.

"We'd never betray her like that!"

Bambietta froze then, the Quincy turning her head slowly away from Lucy. Her visage instead fell upon Erza. Despite her slowly healing injuries, the wizard was shouting in defiance towards Jose.

"She's a member of Fairy Tail!" Erza continued to yell, "And we will not throw away one of your own! You'll have to kill us first!"

Lucy began to sob then, the Celestial Spirit mage unsure of the support that Erza had levied in her favor. This guild was willing to lay down its very existence for her, a relative newcomer. It was too much for her to take.

It was no different from Bambietta then, the Quincy caught off-guard by Erza's words. For the moment had Bambietta's resolve to see the worst in people been shattered, her desire to whisk Lucy and the others away left to the side. However, it came back soon enough. It was impossible, simply impossible, for a group of such diverse people to be so good and so pure. Erza was speaking for herself and no one else. That was all. That was all it could ever be.

Gray suddenly stepped forward, casting aside his coat as if to accentuate his words. "There's no guild in Earthland that would hand over one of their own to a monster like you!"

"You think we'd just give up one of our friends because you threaten our guild?" Levy was next by his side, the Solid Script wizard trying to put on a brave face. "Either result would leave Fairy Tail less than it should be, so we'll... we'll stand and fight!"

As if joining in Erza, Gray and Levy's stance, those who bore the mark of Fairy Tail spoke in one voice then, a collective unison of defiance that rang out across the land. Levy, Elfman, Mirajane, Macao and so many others raised their fists high, shouting in support of one of their own. Even Wendy, timid as she would be, tried her best.

"You hear that, right?" Wendy said as she looked toward the Phantom Lord guild hall, all the while continuing to heal Erza. She tried to harden her expression, to speak with confidence, but it only went so far. "Lucy's staying put, okay?"

Lucy broke down then, tears streaming from her eyes as she covered her mouth with her right hand, trying desperately to keep herself calm. In response did Bambietta see the Fairy Tail guild emblem on her skin, the Quincy pausing for a moment.

"They're too pure and too kind," Bambietta whispered underneath her breath, her voice drowned out by the unyielding and collective roar that continued to rail against Jose Porla. "It's just... not..."

Bambietta lowered her head for a moment, her mind simply trying to process what was going on. Yet that proved problematic as she heard another voice, Jose responding in kind to those who had rebuked his offer.

"You miserable fools!" the guild master proclaimed, his voice teetering on the verge of uncertain madness. "I'll give you one last chance to answer my demand properly!"

Fairy Tail continued its defiance though, leaving Bambietta to hear Natsu make certain that his voice was heard just as all the others had been.

"Keep dreaming, pal!" the Fire Dragon Slayer shouted to the heavens themselves. "Ask all you want, but we ain't gonna give you any other answer! We're going to take every one of you jerks down and that's that!"

Bambietta chuckled slightly, the Quincy's eyes peeking out from underneath the visor of her hat. She could see it clearly now, so very clearly. Yet while her eyesight was focused on the here and now, her thoughts dwelt elsewhere.


"Tell me, this Fairy Tail... can I expect to be betrayed like that again?"

"That is not the type of guild that First Master Mavis sought to create so many decades ago. And it is not the kind of family I wish to take care of."

"Family?"

"Yes. You are now part of my Fairy Tail family... if you wish to be."


At first Bambietta had not believed a word of it, not even at her lowest point of existence. Yet now she could finally understand. What Makarov had said was not simply well-spoken lies or the words of a man who foolishly believed in a kindness that the world did not truly possess. No, he had spoken the truth. Fairy Tail, it was...

"This guild is..." The corners of Bambietta's lips began to curl back up into a smile with a degree of trembling hesitancy, the edges of her eyes watering in a way she had never expected. "This guild is my family."

In that moment did Bambietta feel something almost alien to her. She had been happy many times in her past, for both the right and wrong reasons, but this was different. This was a bliss, a joy, a jubilation that she had not experienced since she had been but a child.

"Fairy Tail..." Jose voice remained calm over his speakers, yet Bambietta and all those of the guild she had joined could hear that his tone was on the edge. "Is that your final answer?"

Bambietta, lost in the moment, quickly raised her right hand, covered in the Sanrei Glove as it was, and pointed its index finger towards Phantom Lord's guild hall. "You hard of hearing or something? You didn't get all those words that were coming out of Natsu's mouth? Well then, listen up!"

Bambietta raised her left arm up then and took the glove off it. She kept the back of her hand facing towards the Phantom Lord castle. As the white glove continued to slip off, the pale blue guild emblem that adorned Bambietta's skin revealed itself. As it did so, Bambietta's mind once more flashed back to her first day in this strange new world.


"How about right here?"

"You wish to cover the emblem?"

"No, no, not at all. I just think it'd be cool if, you know, I were to say something like 'the gloves are coming off' and then reveal that I'm in Fairy Tail. That ought to scare away most troublemakers I end up dealing with."


While Bambietta could understand now that Makarov had spoken nothing but the truth, she had given him nothing but lies at that very moment. She had wanted to hide the emblem of a guild that she had seen as nothing more than a means to an end. Yet now things were different. The likes of Lucy, Levy and Wendy meant something to her. The likes of Erza, Natsu and Gray as well. The guild as a whole.

So now, when truth had been revealed for what it was, so too did the lies become truth as well. Bambietta held her hand before her face, allowing Jose Porla and the world to see that she was a member of this family.

"We're Fairy Tail," Bambietta exclaimed, "and you can't have any of us!"

There was a silence then, one that Bambietta digested before she continued to indulge herself. If Jose was not going to respond, then she was more than willing to continue to give him a piece of her mind. She considered perhaps that she should have quit while she was ahead, but that was never her style.

"Man, look at you!" the Quincy cried out as she slipped her glove back on and resumed pointing at the Phantom Lord castle. "You come down here to Magnolia packing a big old attitude, acting all mean and nasty, then you go throwing out ridiculous demands while pointing that big, bad Jupiter Cannon at us? Talk about arrogant! Or maybe your just self-conscious! Yeah, that might be it! I think somebody is overcompensating!" Bambietta shrugged. "Man, and here I thought that after everything you've done to us that you had to be one hundred percent a dick, but I guess you can't really get it up, huh?"

"How dare you!" Jose's silence suddenly came to a close, his voice all but cracking. "If this is how you want it, then so be it! I'll give you a second dose of the Jupiter Cannon! Fifteen minutes... That's all it will take to recharge! You all have fifteen minutes to consider the foolishness you've committed by insulting one of the ten Wizard Saints!"

"Okay," Bambietta said as her bluster faded a bit, "maybe insulting the guy with the Jupiter Cannon wasn't my best idea ever. I really need to learn to quit while I'm ahead."

"I wouldn't beat yourself up over it too much," Totomaru said as he began to approach the Quincy. "Even when he was more stable, he always did want to test out the Jupiter Cannon after spending so much jewel on obtaining it. It would have come to this eventually."

"You seem to be taking this calmly," Bambietta said as she noted how neither Totomaru or Juvia seemed all that perturbed. "You know, for a guy who was just attack by his own boss."

"What's the worry?" Totomaru asked. "We've got fifteen minutes to get up there and shut down the Jupiter Cannon's core. And besides, between Erza and that little friend of yours, I'm sure it can be deflected again no problem."

"That's rather unlikely," Erza called from afar. "I spent a significant amount of magic power on fueling my Adamantine Armor. And I can't requip it again until I've had it repaired."

"I can heal Erza's wounds," Wendy offered up "but I can't replenish Erza or Liltotto's magic. Or her armor. I'm so useless."

"Nonsense," Erza said as she placed a comforting arm atop Wendy's shoulder. "If not for you, there's no telling when I could fight next."

"Okay," Totomaru said panicking slightly now. "So we've got fifteen minutes to save the day. We just need to get through my own guild... to..."

Totomaru's eyes began to widen, giving Bambietta reason to look over her shoulder. Sure as day, she could see a legion of strange violet forms of magic coming towards her, measuring in the hundreds. They appeared to be humanoid, red eyes burning in the shadows of their bodies, but they were completely composed of nothing but energy.

Juvia simply stared in astonishment. "Jose's Shade magic?"

"Wait, what?" Bambietta blinked unlike the water mage. "That's a form of magic? From one guy?"

"He is a Wizard Saint after all," Erza said as she looked at the oncoming horde. "He could face an entire guild with a Caster spell such as this."

"I swear, if this stupid guild master has one more trick up his sleeves, I'm going to be so freaking pissed!" Bambietta looked back to Totomaru. "So, fire dude, you know a lot about that cannon. Where the heck is the core?"

"At the far end of the Jupiter Cannon's barrel," Totomaru replied. "So we'd need to get in there and destroy it if we want to stop it."

Erza narrowed her eyes. "So we simply need to fight through this horde of Shades and then the remaining guild members to get there."

"The core was always meant to be my post if push ever came to shove," Totomaru said with some degree of sorrow. "I wonder who Jose has replaced me with now?"

"We will have our home back," Juvia said as comforting as possible. "As soon as we make Master Jose see the light."

"Oh, I'll show him the light all right!" Totomaru's right hand came alive with flame and he quickly threw his arm out. The fiery blast shot forth, piercing through a wave of Shades as they approached.

Bambietta had to admit that she was rather fond of the spirit Totomaru possessed despite his circumstances. However, she knew it was no match for her own, not now. She was on an emotional high, a euphoria that she could not quite explain. As Fairy Tail began to engage the Shades in battles both near and far, the Quincy simply looked up at the Jupiter Cannon, a smile spreading across her face.

"Oh no," Liltotto said as she approached, all the while trying to recover her strength to better fend off the Shades. "I know that look. You're about to do something stupid and reckless."

"No, no," Bambietta said with an unwavering confidence. "I'm just going to go shot out the Jupiter Cannon's core."

Then Bambietta was off, the Quincy leaping into the air and jumping from spiritual platform to spiritual platform with Hirenkyaku.

"Like I said," Liltotto whispered under her breath, "something stupid and reckless. But it's so totally you so it's cool."

Liltotto wanted to give chase, to keep a close eye on her friend, but her powers were still in a state of relatively dormancy thanks to the shield she had erected. She was drawing on the powers around her to recharge, but she needed more if she was to use Hirenkyaku or her Voll Stern Dich to fly.

Sighing, she prepared herself as she saw a Shade approaching. The more precise techniques of the Quincy were problematic for the moment, but the Gluttony? that was like breathing. Liltotto's mouth grew out and extending, quickly gobbling up the ethereal monster.

"Not bad," Liltotto muttered. "But not very filling..."


Bambietta leapt through the air, moving from location to location. Her sword in hand, she continued to cut through the nearly endless swarm of Shades that threatened to overtake her, the Quincy gritting as some managed to cut through her Blut Vene and draw miniscule amounts of blood. Yet still she kept her eye on the Jupiter Cannon, trying to ascertain how to best take it out.

The Ginto Capsules were the first thing that came to mind, yet Bambietta had to wonder if lining the cannon with them in a bid to blow it up would have the proper benefits. Surely the Jupiter's magic beam would not work properly, but this was a form of magic and technology she was not even remotely familiar with. There was no telling if it would still fire even without the barrel to guide it.

So no, Bambietta knew what she had to do. She needed to go right through the barrel and take out the core the old fashioned way. However, much to her annoyance, the Shades were making that more difficult than it needed to be.

"Hey, keep your shadowy mitts to yourself!" Bambietta shouted as she switched to her bow and tried to get some distance between herself and the ever-increasing horde. "Sheesh, it's like somebody's got it out for me..."


Jose Porla sneered as he watched the lacrima orbs before him. He could see very well the battlefield that he had created, his magical constructs bringing their full might against the accursed Fairy Tail. It was a splendid sight indeed, but one that was taxing to the guild master. Fighting an entire guild was a troublesome ordeal, particularly when he was trying his best to keep an eye on four particular wizards.

First there was Lucy Heartfilia. He was intent on taking her back by force before the Jupiter Cannon was primed to fire, but she was holding her own with her Celestial Spirits. Then there was the likes of Titania Erza, the Salamander, Natsu Dragneel, and this upstart of a woman in white who had made a mockery of him just moments before. The trio of them had taken to the air, one with a winged armor, another being guided by the peculiar flying cat holding tight to him, and the last leaping through the air itself. There was no doubt in Jose's mind that the three of them were intent on attacking the Jupiter Canon itself, something that he would not allow. So he further turned his attention on them, unleashing more and more of the Shades he had crafted upon them. It proved advantageous as Jose could see that those on the ground who could provide cover fire were doing just that, trying to support their comrades.

So it went, Jose trying to bring down the guild he had grown to despise, those who stayed loyal to Phantom Lord close by his side.

"Sir," Sojiro Kusaka said as he approached. "I know your power is great, but please allow us to assist you on the battlefield."

"No," Jose said without even diverting his attentions. "I think you overestimate their chances. I will see the end of Makarov's children myself! Only five minutes remain..."

Kusaka shook his head. "That's still an eternity in battle."

"You are all required in case the we need our trump card," Jose retorted. "Though I suppose you could always return in case this plan fails. So be it. Kusaka, Yin, and Yang; you have my blessing. Aria, Sol, Hanza and Kariya shall remain in case any foolish wizards enter this castle."

"It will be done, my master." Kusaka turned then, his tattered cloak whipping about as he affixed a white mask to his face. "Yin, Yang, let's go."


"Not cool! Not cool!"

No, it quite certainly was not to Bambietta. For someone who had lived the majority of her long life within the shadows of the Vandenreich, one who had claimed them as her own to launch attacks on the realms of the dead, to be assaulted by beings made of the darkness was an affront she could not tolerate.

The Shades were relentless, the beings practically piling upon Bambietta as if to keep her at bay. Yet still she kept pressing forward, trying to get closer to the Jupiter Cannon. Yet more and more continued to launch towards her, wrapping across her body. Bambietta's body began to be consumed in the shadows, her face falling into darkness as her outstretched arm became lost as well.

Desperate, Bambietta began to fumble through the pockets of her coat, pulling from their a multitude of Ginto capsules. She grit her teeth then, allowing her spiritual energies to flow through her blood, putting as much power as she could into her Blut Vene. Then, while closing her eyes and gritting her teeth, she opened the capsules.

The Shades tore asunder in response, explosions of blue light coming together, forcing the rays of power to pierce them. In response did they disintegrate, giving Bambietta breathing space. She took advantage of it then, gasping for air as smoke came off her body. She was relatively unharmed, Blut Vene having held its ground, but her clothes were charred and torn, leaving her a mess. There was pain nonetheless, but it meant nothing to her, especially if Wendy could heal it later.

"The cannon..." Bambietta knew time was running out, her senses coming alive as she felt the energies of the Jupiter Cannon beginning to coalesce. She had to take it out and now. So Bambietta leapt upwards again, taking advantage of the momentary clear passage her brazen attack had created. She moved quickly, stopping in her invisible tracks quite suddenly. "Damn it!"

As if appearing due to powers similar to Hirenkyaku, were three individuals Bambietta recognized. A Soul Reaper adorned in a tattered cloak and a stark white mask, twin Arrancars by his side. The Quincy knew them by reputation if nothing else.

"What the hell? You're that guy with the copycat Zanpakuto that tried to remake the Soul Society!" Bambietta grew frustrated then. "Seriously, what the hell is going on here? First me, then, Lil, Kariya and now you three? Oh yeah, and I guess that Hanza guy probably died too. Sheesh, forget this stupid afterlife reunion nonsense! Get the hell out of my way!"

"We are as in the dark as you it seems," Kusaka replied. "A shame. I was hoping that someone from our world would know the truth. Regardless, I will not let you interfere with my new family."

Bambietta brought her sword to bear and spoke with an earnest tone she was quite happy to employ. "Same to you."

Kusaka, Yin and Yang quickly lunged for Bambietta, the trio of opponents bringing their weapons forward. Bambietta's sword clashed with Kusaka's own, the Quincy trying to parry him. She simply wanted to move forward, to avoid this battle for now. The clock was ticking and she could see the Jupiter Cannon beginning to light up.

Growing frustrated, her elation finally beginning to crack under the pressure, Bambietta moved past Kusaka with Hirenkyaku, again evading the electrified whip of Yin, one last step letting her slip past a sword strike from Yang's fiery weapon.

Bambietta appeared before the maw of the Jupiter Cannon, looking down the darkened tunnel. She feel the power within, the core no doubt incredibly close to firing. Desperate as she was, Bambietta let her sword switch to her bow. there was no time to run down the tunnel, not even with Hirenkyaku. She raised her bow then and prepared herself for what she had to do. Bambietta knew she was leaving herself defenseless, a veritable death sentence with the Shades, Arrancar and Soul Reaper about, but such a risk she was willing to take.

"The depravity of the Heavens! Scattered souls of the dead! I call upon thy power and swear my loyalty to your unjust ruling!"

The word uttering in panic, her heart rate running out of control, Bambietta could feel pure power infuse itself within her bow as she held it before her and towards the Jupiter Cannon's barrel. An arrow began to form, drawing from the magic around her, gaining strength from even the cannon's energies itself.

"What the hell is she doing?" Yin cried out as she watched the power continue to flow into Bambietta's bow.

"She intends to fire upon the Jupiter Cannon itself?" Yang added. "She's insane!"

Kusaka did not care in the least as he moved closer to his comrades. Surely this Quincy had no chance of destroying the core from such a distance no matter what power she was calling upon, but he was unwilling to test the limits of his assumption. Extending his right arm outwards, he pointed both his index and middle fingers towards Bambietta. One simple Kido spell, that was all it would take to bring her down if she was so unguarded. "I have you now."

"Fire Dragon's Roar!"

"What?" The attention of both Kusaka and his Arrancar allies was diverted then, the lot of them turning to catch sight of a fiery mass of fire coming towards them. Yin was struck immediately, falling back until her body smashed into Kusaka and Yang both, sending the lot of them spinning through the air.

"Nice shooting, Natsu!" Happy exclaimed from over the shoulder of his friend as he held him aloft.

"Man, I was hoping to take the lot of you out!" the Fire Dragon Slayer exclaimed as he turned his attentions to Bambietta. "You're all clear!"

Erza, still clad in her Black Wing Armor, tore through an advancing cluster of Shades, giving the Quincy a quick look as well. "I'm counting on you, Bambietta Basterbine! Take it out and protect our guild!"

"Annihilate those who stand in defiance of my desires!" Bambietta continued to shout as she felt her jubilation rise once more thanks to Natsu and Erza both supporting her. She shut her left eye then, trying to get a bead on the Jupiter core at the end of the cannon. The darkness was proving impossible to pierce through with the naked eye, leaving her to grow frustrated for a moment. "Scatter their existence into the ether!"

She could not hope to strike the core, not at this distance, not through this darkness. Yet everyone was counting on this one arrow to provide salvation. Bambietta's wavering ecstasy faltered again, the tension mounting in her neck, the weight and pressure of the world upon her shoulders. Yet despite it all, she remembered a day long ago, when she had first held a bow in her hands and wore a blindfold over her eyes. Then it drifted through her thoughts, the words of Robert Accutrone bringing a calming effect to Bambietta's soul.

"Your eyes will betray you, yes, but never your soul. Feel your target, Bambietta, and your aim shall be impeccable."

Bambietta did just that, closing her right eye so that it matched the left. The darkness surrounded her then, but it mattered not. Despite it all, she could see nonetheless. Her soul was reaching outwards, moving past the symmetrical waves of power pulsing through the Jupiter Cannon. At its center she could see it, a violet orb of storming magic, particles of power smashing against one and another.

Then did Bambietta's heart skip a beat, the Quincy feeling a surge of energy beginning to pulse outwards. It was about to fire. This was it, the last chance. Screaming them, her serenity shattered, Bambietta finished her incantation. "Become one with my power and obey my command! Sankt Bogen!"

Bambietta unleashed the arrow then, the glowing weapon of light flying through the darkness of the Jupiter Cannon. The illumination it provided left Bambietta a clear view of the destruction that was about to unfold.

Soon did the arrow and Jupiter core collide, the burst of magnified energy of both sides interacting as two volatile sources only could.

Bambietta smiled as she watched the explosion unfold, the power of the blast rocking the Phantom Lord guild hall. The complex shook, the Jupiter Cannon rocked by the blast at its end. The weapon began to fall forward, its connection to the guild hall undone. Bambietta and those of Fairy Tail simply watched as it descended to the ground, causing the land to shake as it hit.

"Damn it." Kusaka and his twin Arrancar sped back to the sight of the battle, the trio staring down at the carnage that had been wrought. The masked Soul Reaper turned his gaze upon Natsu Dragneel then, his indignation at having been driven away at such a critical juncture tearing at his thoughts. "Twice now you have vexed me, Dragon Slayer. The next we shall see our battle through to the end."

Then he was gone, his speed taking him back to the Phantom Lord guild hall. Yin and Yang simply glared at Natsu before doing the same.

"Well, they seem kind of mean," Happy exclaimed as he watched the trio vanish from sight.

"Maybe," Natsu exclaimed, "but that'll just give me more reason to get fired up next time we fight. Anyway, let's go high five Bambi, okay?"

"I think Erza might have beat you to the punch," Happy replied as he watched the armored mage approach the Quincy.

"Excellent work, Bambietta Basterbine," Erza said as her Black Wing Armor brought her closer. She looked at the destroyed Jupiter Cannon then. "Normally I'm not one for Fairy Tail causing property damage, but I think I can make an exception this one time."

"Yeah, that's cool and all," Bambietta said as she breathed deeply, her face drenched in sweat. She looked at Erza then and gave her a thumbs up. "Mission accomplished, ri-"

Bambietta suddenly slumped forward them, her body running low on power. Even with the Sanrei Glove, she had expended more power than she had on that spell than ever before, leaving her weak in the knees. Erza was quick to catch her though, making sure to keep Bambietta held tightly.

"You did good, Bambietta Basterbine," Erza said simply.

"And our guild is safe. My... family..."

It had been nothing but a whisper, the Quincy clearly to exhausted for the moment to speak loudly, yet Erza had heard it nonetheless. She smiled then, the mage happy to have heard Bambietta refer to the guild as she had just now. Tired as she was, Erza had to wonder if Bambietta had even known what she had said out loud, if her pride would have allowed her to under other circumstances. Regardless, it did not matter. Content, Erza begin to descend back down to the ground. For the moment she could see that the Shades were beginning to drift away from the battle, hovering instead over the guild. Perhaps Jose was simply planning a new approach to this battle, though Erza had to hope that the destruction of his Jupiter Cannon had simply broken his concentration.

Landing upon a grassy covered knoll, Erza lay Bambietta down upon her back as gently as she could. Natsu and Happy were soon to land close by, yet it was the sight of others running over that took hold of Erza's attention. Lucy, Levy, Liltotto and Wendy were closing the distance, their expression betraying their worries.

"Bambi, are you okay?" Wendy asked as she knelt down beside Bambietta, preparing to utilize her healing magic.

"A little drained is all," Bambietta replied. "And a little dinged up, so... thanks in advance, Wendy."

"You're crazy, you know that?" Lucy asked as she knelt beside Bambietta, looking down at her with tears moving down her tears. "We could have avoided all of this if I had just let myself be taken by Phantom Lord."

"Nonsense," Erza replied. "You're one of us, Lucy. What kind of guild would we be if we sacrificed one of our own."

"And..." Bambietta reached up with her left hand, gently touching Lucy's face to wipe away her tears. "I wouldn't let anyone take you away for anything, Lucy. Not even my life."

"Still," Erza began to say as she looked up at the towering guild hall, "we can't be confident in our victory. This isn't over yet, I'm sure of it."

Bambietta knew that much was true. Jose and the others were no doubt planning their next move. Yet for the moment she was happy. Happier than she could recall being in so many decades. her mind was simply trying to process all that had happened in the half hour, the bulk of it hard for her to imagine.

This was her guild now, these were her friends now, but most importantly... this was her family. It had become the one thing she had lacked for so long, the one thing that had been stolen from her as a child.

"Leave it to you, Bambi," Liltotto said as she stood by her friend's side, all the while looking at the destroyed Jupiter Cannon. "You don't even have your Shrift and you still managed to blow that thing to kingdom come."

Bambietta smirked a bit, then did her eyes begin to widen. "Wait..."

Liltotto turned around then, noting the sudden increase in the pitch of Bambietta's voice. "What's the matter?"

"Wait, wait, wait..." Bambietta's mind began to race, stray thoughts beginning to come together like so much puzzle pieces, a fond memory from long ago beginning to bring a light to her eyes. "A bunch of self-important jerks threatening to destroy us all with a deadly laser... A clock clicking down to destruction... A masked man trying to stop me when I was racing that clock only for someone to blindside him... And me closing my eyes due to advise from a wise mentor so that I can take the shot that saved the day?"

Bambietta smiled.

"This has been such a red letter day," Bambietta said, her face beaming like never before. "I've been waiting for this heaven since Seventy-Seven."

Lucy, Erza, Wendy, Levy, Natsu and Happy were simply confused by Bambietta's thought process, the lot of them unsure of what precisely she was talking about. Liltotto on the other hand, knew exactly what she was referring to.

"You are such a nerd, Bambi."


Its so great to have Bambietta realize that fairy tails speech about family in the past wast just hot air, but the truth. From here on out, she'll be far more caring for the guild as a whole, and not just a select few people. Oh, she'll still have preferences as to who she likes more, but still.

I hope you all liked the backstory we came up with for Liltotto. I didn't want to do a long scene, but i figured that her talk with Erza would do the job just fine.

Finally we have the addition of Juvia and Totamaru to the side of fairy tail. Ive always had this planned from the beginning, and with this, many things will change, not just for this arc, but the story as a whole...Don't worry though, Greyxjuvia is still going to be a thing. I wouldn't be that cruel (or stupid) to change that.

Hopefully we will have the next chapter out sooner. Until then, I cant wait to hear what you all thought about this chapter.

Thanks for reading, and see you next time