I don't own anything.
"Keep it, don't really need it." Natsu told Lucy.
Lucy tried to give Natsu's sweater back to him but he denied it. He may not, like, like Lucy but that didn't mean he couldn't be a half decent gentleman. It looked like Lucy would need the sweater more than him for the foreseeable moment.
"Alright." Lucy weakly replied.
"Still, you the daughter of Jude Heartfillia it's surprising." Gray said.
At this point, what was left of Fairy Tail were either resting and or planning their next move but Erza was still MIA. Natsu was wondering if she needed some time to recover.
'She did have to lead them and being the only S-Class Wizard here. She must be under a lot of pressure.' Natsu thought.
Natsu couldn't help but feel a bit worried about the scarlet haired woman. He mentally slapped himself. Now wasn't the time for that, he couldn't afford to get attached especially being a spy.
'Ugh, I feel like this will bite me in the ass one day.' Natsu thought.
"I was trying to run away from home and I just never found a good time to talk about it."
Lucy let loose a dry chuckle.
"It's funny because for a year, he didn't do anything about his runaway daughter. All of a sudden, he wants me back."
Natsu scoffed.
"He probably just wants you to marry someone to give you wealth or power. That would be the only reason he is going through the trouble to get you back." Natsu replied.
"If only I hadn't ran away from home, none of this would have happened. You guys wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe, I should turn myself in. That way it won't have to continue." Lucy spoke.
Natsu flicked Lucy in the forehead. She grabbed her forehead while glaring at the light dragon slayer.
"What was that for?" Lucy hissed.
"That won't do anything, you're forgetting the elephant in the room. Phantom Lord. It's true your dad wants you back but he didn't expect Phantom Lord to break the law to get you back. I'm sure he's not happy that the people he hired went behind his back to destroy Fairy Tail. Which means Phantom Lord is doing whatever it wants and that means you have no control over them. Gosh, you're so stubborn in the worst ways." Natsu told her.
"Yeah, what's even the point of going back to a home you don't want to go back too. You're Lucy of Fairy Tail now, you belong here with us." Gray told her.
Lucy eyes watered as she struggled not to cry in relief. Natsu rubbed the back of his neck.
'Damn it she wasn't suppose to start crying again.' Natsu thought.
"Don't cry, it doesn't suit you at all!" Gray began to panic.
"That's right, a man can't stand to see a girl cry!" Elfman stated.
"But..."
She began to cry again. Lucy was touched by their words. However, they were so busy trying to comfort Lucy that they didn't notice another member look on from a distance.
"Laxus, we need your help, we can't get a hold of Mystogan or Gildarts and the Master is in critical condition." Mirajane spoke.
Mirajane had used a magical item, a communication lacrima to contact Laxus. The man is currently away on a mission of his own with his own personal squad. She watch the man on screen began to laugh at hearing the news.
"You mean to tell me that the old man has finally gotten his!?"
Laxus took a moment to stop laughing to reply to Mirajane's plea.
"Do it yourselves, this whole thing has got nothing to do with me." Laxus spoke.
Mirajane eyes grew a frown.
"Laxus! Lucy is one of our own!!" Mirajane snapped at him.
Everyone in the guild now looked at Mirajane. The woman talking to Laxus through a lacrima crystal.
"Really? So am I? I'll help but on one condition if Makarov guarantee's to name me Guild Master. It's the least he can do since I have to clean up his mess." Laxus said.
Mirajane was progressively getting more angry at Laxus.
"Really, that's all you care about is being the master!? You're really despicable!" Mirajane shouted at him.
"Now, now I thought you need a favor from me, is this how you-"
Mirajane had enough as she blasted the lacrima crystal to pieces with a pulse of dark magic.
"That man is not a Fairy Tail Member! I have had enough, I'm going to fight!!!" Mirajane shouted.
"Like hell you will, you'll just get in the way! It's been three years since you last did a mission much less trained! Not only will you be rusty but everyone will be on your level if not over you!" Wakaba shouted.
Natsu and Lucy raised a brow at that line of information.
"Even still, if Natsu wasn't here we would have lost Lucy! I can't sit here any longer!" Mirajane spoke.
"We know how you feel but right now, you can't do anything. It's been too long Mirajane." Wakaba said.
Meanwhile.
Erza was taking a shower. The female going over the past events.
I'm going to find Jose!!!
'I should have went after him! I shouldn't have followed orders! If I hadn't, things wouldn't be this bad! We have too many wounded and our numbers deserted too! Damn it!'
Erza punched the shower wall and the tile would crack apart due to the impact of her punch. Her knuckles began to bleed due to the recoil of her attack. Erza couldn't help but think things would have been better if Natsu was with them in their attack. He might not have followed orders but the trade off was Makarov being safe. They would have an actual withdraw that didn't require leaving so many of their members to Phantom Lord. Erza gritted her teeth as she had to finally admit that maybe it was okay to break some rules. Yes, it did mean having more negatives at the start but at the end of it. There may have been more positives that easily outweighed those negatives. Erza couldn't dive deeper into her descending spiral because there would be a rubble that shaked the entire building. Erza nearly lost her balance.
"What the hell!?" Erza asked out loud.
Everyone was just as confused as Erza.
"An earthquake?" One member asked.
There would be another wave of the ground violently shaking. Finally, a member came running down the stairs.
"Get outside right now!" They yelled.
Any member that wasn't injured or were lightly injured rush out to the back of Fairy Tail. They stood on the side of the river and looked up to see a building with four legs moving right towards the city. The legs were so long that they could go into the river and not be fully submerged. It traveled through the water like it was walking on land.
"What the hell is that!?"
Natsu let out a whistle. He was geninuely impressed.
"Look that's Phantom Lord's symbol on the building!" A Fairy Tail Member yelled.
The Machine stopped moving as it was about two hundred meters away from the Fairy Tail Guild.
"How did Phantom Lord get the money to make a walking Guild Hall!?" Wakaba asked.
"I don't know but that thing is massive!" Elfman stated.
Natsu figured that all the illegal jobs were working for Phantom Lord in this moment. Erza herself made her way to the front of the gathered members of Fairy Tail. She couldn't believe what she was looking at but it was right there. It forced her to believe. Erza's face fell into despair.
"I never thought they would ever attack us using that...!" Erza responded.
Natsu saw Erza's composure breaking, it seemed even Erza had her limits.
"What are we suppose to do now!?" Erza yelled.
It seemed that was the final straw as many other members began to lose what little morale they had left.
"Prepare to fire the magic focusing cannon: Jupiter." Jose stated over a intercom.
The walking Guild had slammed down to have the legs fully submerge into the water. The main door to Phantom Lords Headquarters would be lowered down. A long barrel came out to aim at everyone in Fairy Tail that stood on the beach. It began to gather magical energy at the end of the cannon's barrel. Natsu could feel it from here. He didn't want to block that magical energy. There was way too much magic for him to even try to block it. Erza knowing what was about to happen had turn around with panic on her face.
"This is bad! Everyone get down!"
Erza ran forward as she threw off her towel before requipping into her adamantie armor. The female getting as far as possible in front if everyone before letting out a battle cry.
"You will not harm my guild!"
"Erza! What the fuck!?" Natsu yelled at her.
"She's crazy even with how high her defense is in her adamantine armor, it won't be able to block all of it!" A Guild Member shouted.
Natsu found himself moving towards Erza. He had to stop her! Yet he couldn't reach her because he was being held back by both Gray and Elfman.
"Damn it, get off of me!" Natsu ordered the pair.
"Get down!" Erza ordered again.
"We just have to trust her!" Gray yelled at Natsu.
"Oh n-"
Lucy didn't get to finish her sentence because the cannon unleashed it's stored magically energy at them. A beam at least the size of Fairy Tail's guild building would be headed right to the group. Erza summoned two bulky shields before putting them together. Erza stood strong in defiance. As she would make it her mission to protect everyone. The beam hit Erza's shield as she took the hit head on and at first she held her ground. Yet, it didnt take long for her shield to start cracking and it eventually broke apart. Erza still took the attack as she remained in her armor. Yet, her armor began to break apart piece by piece. Finally, the beam began to end as it disappeared and when it fully evaporated did Erza experience the recoil. She went from being in broken armor to being fully exposed as she flew throughout the air. Natsu had broke free from Gray and Elfman by punching both of them off of him. Natsu made a beeline for the flying Erza. Natsu caught her and experienced the force of the recoil she had taken earlier. Natsu tucked her body into his as he shielded her from the harsh ground. The two rolling wildly until they came to a stop after traveling a dozen or so meters on the ground.
"I don't believe it...she really stopped it." A Fairy Tail Member said.
"She saved us all, that's for sure." Another member commented.
Natsu sat up while cradling Erza.
"Damn it, you..."
Natsu didn't think she could block the entirety of Jupiter Cannon. Hell, he was doubting his own abilities to preform such a feat. However, looking at Erza. He was sadly vindicated on his decision. The woman's body is covered in bruises from head to toe, it made Lucy's train look like a walk in the park. Erza's face was contorted in pain with her hair being a mess. She definitely had a few broken bones from how she was trying to hold in her pained screams. Erza was bleeding from her head.
"Makarov and Erza are out of action!"
Jose used the intercom to talk to Fairy Tail despite being so far away from them.
"You have no final ace in the hole considering that Natsu is not a member and Ur is out on a private mission. Now, I want Lucy Heartfillia and I want her now!!" Master Jose yelled.
Despite the facts presented to Fairy Tail, despite Makarov and Erza being badly wounded. Despite being essentially declawed of their more capable members. Fairy Tail did not submit.
"You're joking, as if I'll hand over Lucy to you!" Gray shouted.
"What type of Guild would hand over one of their own to a enemy!?" Wakaba yelled.
"Lucy is our friend!"
"That's right!"
"Scram!"
"Hand her over!" Master Jose shouted back.
Lucy began to cry as she realized that even with Erza sacrificing her body and being out of commission. The Guild was still going to fight for her. Lucy couldn't keep up with the guilt. Emotions weren't easy to control and despite Natsu's advice. Lucy found herself caving.
"I'll..."
Erza pushed away from Natsu as she faced the Phantom Lord Building and unleashed a roar.
"If it's to hand over a friend or die, I'd rather die!" Erza yelled with unwavering conviction.
Her body was broken, but her spirit did not yield. Natsu was captivated by Erza's unshakable resolve to protect Lucy. Hell, he was surprised by Fairy Tail's resolve to protect Lucy. Natsu couldn't help but smile.
'These guys might not be so bad.' Natsu thought.
Erza stood standing despite her body wanting to crumble back to the ground. Yet, she held on because of her will. Erza would not leave Lucy to a fate worse than death. Natsu saw Erza standing tall regardless of how badly damage she was and he found himself admiring her for being so strong in the face of overwhelming odds.
'Heh, it's clear that she doesn't want to be babysat.' Natsu thought.
Natsu got to his feet.
"Do what you want!!! The answer will always be the same!!! We will drag you through the dirt!!" Gray yelled at Master Jose.
Lucy could only cry at seeing everyone wanting to keep her out of the hands of Jose. She caused this situation. She made people leave the Guild. Yet, they all were still trying to defend her to the bitter end.
"Oh? If that's what you want, you'll get another heaping of Jupiter! I will allow you fifteen minutes it takes to recharge the cannon to wallow in despair!" Master Jose yelled.
The wind in the sails of Fairy Tail disappeared as everyone seemed to be in shock.
"How does it just takes fifteen minutes to power such a powerful weapon!?"
"They can fire it again?"
Erza nearly fell to the ground as her body would break but Natsu caught her. The male holding her up by her arm. Erza looked up at him. Natsu remained looking forward.
"You don't deserve to fall or be on the ground." Natsu complimented.
Erza was confused as she didn't understand what he was saying. Yet, she couldn't ask him to explain because Mirajane quickly took Erza away. The female moving to help Erza and take her off the battlefield. Natsu didn't watch as Mirajane evacuated Erza off of the battlefield. Natsu watch as Master Jose's shades came out from Phantom Lord's building. They began to swarm towards them.
"Master Jose's shades are coming for us!" Wakaba shouted.
"Look and see hell Fairy Tail because there is only two choices that lead to one outcome! Be killed by my shades or be killed by Jupiter!"
'What will you do now, Fairy Tail?' Natsu thought.
If they stuck to their guns than Natsu would help them out. If not, he'd just report to Master Hades after killing Makarov that Fairy Tail was wiped out to the last man.
"We'll have to find a way to stop Jupiter, we can't rely on Erza like that anymore." Gray voiced his opinion.
"How about we just break down the front door?" Elfman asked.
"Yeah that can work but..."
The shades had crossed the river in record time as they began to attack the members of Fairy Tail.
"Guns Magic: Flash Grenade!"
It looked like Alzack came to help them out. Natsu would watch as a bright light destroyed some of the shades but as soon as the light died down. The shades would reform.
"What!? You can't be serious!?"
Natsu watch as Fairy Tail members did destroy the shades being more than capable to handle such low level minions from Jose. However, those shades would come back right after being destroyed. The shades might have been very weak but their numerous numbers, along with the fact they could keep coming back meant that they were pinned down.
'Jose, not bad but not good enough.'
"You can't hope to destroy my shades! You aren't strong enough! It's hopeless!" Jose shouted through the intercom.
Natsu still seeing them bitterly fight on had earned enough respect from him. Natsu would help Fairy Tail against Phantom Lord. Natsu put up his hand while gathering magical energy. As he gather the energy a light would form in his hand. The light formed a sphere as it began to glow brighter and brighter. Everyone noticed the ever increasing light. As fighting stopped as they looked at the source. Even Master Jose was intrigued by the light.
"Light Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Blooming Radiance." Natsu spoke.
Natsu sent the sphere of blinding light into the air and it hovered a few feet over the battlefield. It would explode as the light drived out the existence of every single shade on the battlefield. The light would be so intense that even with Fairy Tail members shielding their eyes, they could still see the light through there closed eyelids. The light eventually died out as everyone took time to recover their vision. The Guild Members looked around to see that none of the shades regenerated back into existence. Natsu walked to the front as he made sure to expose himself to Master Jose. Natsu grew a smirk as he looked right at Jose's building.
"You're correct that I'm not in the Guild but you forgot what side I'm fighting for, safe to say that means Fairy Tail still has one ace left to play and he is playing to win it all." Natsu told Jose.