I don't own anything.
"It's been so long Makarov, give or take six years. What was the last time we saw each other? Oh, yes. It was embarrassing for me but just give me a little liquor and I become foolish."
"I'm not here for small talk Jose!"
Makarov enlarged his arm and his hand as he sent a giant punch at Jose. The attack connected as a large smoke screen filled the air. Yet, despite knowing he didn't miss. Makarov could hear laughing.
"Ho! Ho! Ho! Well, well..." Jose replied.
Makarov's eyes widen at realizing that despite destroying the desk and smashing his fist into Jose. That the man had remained unaffected by the attack. Makarov saw Jose start to flicker in and out for a few moments. It was a thought projection! Jose was never here!
"You're a coward! You already scampered away from your own guild!" Makarov yelled.
Master Jose got up from the seat he was sitting at and had a smug smile on his face.
"A battle between two wizard saints should be done when there is a true cataclysm. I just wanted to conduct a battle of wits to you. Fortunately for you, Natsu has stopped my forces from capturing Lucy Heartfillia."
"What!?" Makarov asked.
Makarov's anger was replaced with geninue surprise. What did they want with Luc-. Makarov felt someone appear behind him. The Master turned his head at seeing a man towering over him. The man's palms aimed at Makarov and the man proceed to openly cry.
"I'm...I'm...sorry!!" The Man yelled.
Makarov didn't even get to turn around as he was blasted with a magic orb that sent him crashing into the wall of the room. Makarov slid down the wall as he could feel his magical energy leaving his body. Makarov began to turn green as he felt himself becoming sick.
'What is this magic?' Makarov thought.
The Man that had attacked him Makarov would do so once more and sent Makarov through the wall of the room. Makarov made a one way ticket back onto the first floor. Makarov hit the ground right in the chaotic middle of both factions. As if presenting himself to both sides as the bearer of news. Phantom Lord saw the man looking green and nearly unconscious, the old man barely hanging on to life. For Fairy Tail, the air left their lungs in seeing their Master in such a beaten state. How did it happen!? Makarov should have been able to beat Master Jose. Why...why was he laying there defeated?
"Master!!!" Erza shouted.
Erza equipped into a fire designed armor and she attack the Phantom Lord Members with a orange color sword. Erza let her sword catch on fire as she swinged at everyone. The sword making a AoE attack that consumed everyone in a cone shaped flame attack.
"Hot!"
"Fucking bitch!"
Erza ignored the Phantom Lord Members as she immediately rush over to her Master. Makarov was coughing.
"My magic power." Makarov gasped out.
Erza felt her Master's Magical power leave the man and his complexion would become a healthy green. She cradled the old man in her arms. As she began to feel shivers all over her spine.
'No!' She thought.
She should have went after the Master.
"That Master has no magic power at all!" A Phantom Lord Member commented.
"Wait, that means he is just your average old man!"
"We can get them now!"
Phantom Lord Members rushed forward with reckless abandoned as they now had their morale reinvigorated. Gray tried to help Erza but he would be intercepted by Gajeel.
"Going somewhere?" Gajeel asked.
Gray eyes widen as time seemed to slow down for him. It wasn't magic, it was his brain, his brain altered his entire perception of time to gather as much information as possible. The sudden cause of this shift is Gajeel sending out a chainsaw sword that was meant to diagonally cut Gray in two. Gray manage to avoid the attack as Gajeel sent out a barrage of attack intending to mortally wound his opponent. Yet, Gray avoided the attacks as Gray jumped away from Gajeel.
'I can't check on the Master with this guy here!' Gray thought.
Gray found himself forcing to focus on this fight. He didn't have the luxury to go down here. There is no Natsu and Erza had her hands full he couldn't be a burden.
"Alzack!" A woman shouted.
Alzack got to a knee at taking a blast meant for the woman shouting at him. However, Alzack would not go down fighting as he used a pistol to shoot out a beam of magical energy at a group of Phantom Lord members. Alzack took them out before breathing in deeply. He was trying to recover but he forgot that they were surrounded at this point.
"You're only delaying the inevitable! Kahahaha!"
The woman's eyes became furious as she got ready to unleash her anger on the enemy. Phantom Lord Members lunged at the two fighter's cut off from their own forces. However, the woman summoned a submachine gun and let loose a salvo of magical shots at her opponent's. She wasn't going to let them near Alzack!
"Like hell you'll get close to him!" The female roared.
She could only cut down the attackers in front of her.
"Guns Magic: Spark Shot!" Alzack yelled.
Alzack took care of the people attacking the woman from the back. He pressed his back to hers as he stood tall despite the bruises covering his body.
"It's not over yet, Bisca." He spoke highly.
Bisca grew a half smile at her partner's statement.
"You got that right Al." She said.
Erza retreated to...her group. In reality, it was Wakaba in front of a unconscious Cana, Elfman protecting the right flank, at least two members trying to hold the left and Nab on rear security. Erza set the Master next to Cana. Erza focused on the fighting and noticed that the Fairy Tail line was shattered. The Phantom Lord Members had resurged thanks to the defeat of Master Makarov. She saw Fairy Tail bodies littering the floor. Erza heard cries of pain and shouts of pleasure from Phantom Lord Members. Wakaba faltered as he was running out of magic energy. Erza stepped in to defeat Wakaba's attacker.
'This is hopeless!' Erza thought.
They were cut off from each other, their Master wounded to the point that he was barely breathing, and now they were taking heavy losses. Erza took command at seeing such a bleak situation.
"RETREAT!!!" Erza ordered.
Gajeel smiled at that statement as he backed away from Gray.
"It looks like my job here is done." Gajeel said.
Gray glared daggers at Gajeel.
"Your not going anywhere!" Gray shouted.
"Don't worry snowcone, we might have our rematch someday but right now. I have more important things to attend to." Gajeel said.
Gajeel moved faster than he ever had in Gray's fight. The Man ditching Gray with ease. Gray clicked his tongue at how quickly Gajeel ran away from him. However, now wasn't the time for that.
'Why would she order a retreat!?' Gray thought.
"What!? A real man never retreats!" Elfman yelled.
"Retreat!!! We can't beat Jose without The Master!!! This is a order!!!" Erza yelled.
Gajeel went back up to the rafters to watch the chaos from the safety of his elevated position.
"Going home so soon?" Gajeel asked in mocked disappointment.
"It's so sad..."
Gajeel looked next to him to see his guildmate had joined him on the rafters.
"Aria you creepy jerk but you did good taking out that old fart." Gajeel spoke.
"It was only a part of Master Jose's plan! It was so beautiful!"
Gajeel expression became annoyed at seeing Aria cry...again.
"Do you always have to cry at everything? No matter, did we get that Lucy girl?" Gajeel asked.
"Juvia was lightly wounded but is expected to recover fairly soon. However, Sol is dead. Natsu had saved Lucy from them. It seems that they may have had some of our plan figured out." Aria answered.
Gajeel annoyance would morph into one of intrigue and it furthered evolved as it became one of excitement.
"He might be a challenge, I want to face him and see if he can give me a fight that's actually worth my time." Gajeel commented.
"You'd think we will just let you run away!"
Gray attacked the Phantom Lord Member that spoke those words as he finally linked back up with Erza. Gray ran up to her while she seemed to be leading the evacuation order. Gray got in Erza's face as she had now had to contend with Gray.
"What the hell is this!? We have to get payback for Levy's squad!" Gray yelled at her.
Erza hugged Gray an act that shocked the male. He was able to look down because Erza had cowered into his chest. She had her eyes tightly closed as she looked on the verge of breaking down. Gray hated seeing Erza look so weak, she was the pillar of the Guild whenever things looked rough. If things were so bad, that even she was wavering, Gray knew it was time to listen.
"Please...the only thing we can do is retreat. The hole left by Makarov is just too big." Erza spoke.
Which they did, not everyone could go back either. As a hasty retreat order was given and some members of Fairy Tail were beaten to unconsciousness at Phantom Lord's Guild Hall.
Natsu, Lucy, Mirajane, and Happy were at the Guild Hall when the members returned to say that it went horribly could be an understatement.
"Talking cat, bandages now!" Natsu yelled.
"A-aye!" Happy yelled back.
Natsu reach the first person that was injured and saw that she had a very bad burn on her back. The female was unconscious but in Wakaba's arms. He took her from the man's hand without so much as caring about Wakaba's opinion.
"Mirajane, do we have bed down here?" Natsu asked her.
"Yes further in this way!"
Mirajane pointed to the direction Natsu would need to follow and that was how they all got started on treating the wounded. When the wounded were settled into the Guild Hall did Gray give Natsu and Lucy the run down.
"Master Makarov ended being badly injured and Erza, Bisca, as well as Alzack took him to Porlyusica. Bisca and Alzack will watch over the pair to make sure she won't be attacked. Erza said she'll return after dropping Makarov off." Gray explained.
"Even Makarov got put out of commission. This isn't good." Natsu said.
Lucy looked down in guilt. Natsu pinched her cheek as hard as possible while delivering a glare to her.
"You gotta stop that crap, this is Jose's fault for taking this path." Natsu told Lucy.
Natsu released Lucy's cheek while she went to nurse the reddened cheek. Lucy glaring at Natsu.
"I still have feelings." Lucy hissed at Natsu.
"And I'm trying to tell you, you didn't cause this and you shouldn't feel this way." Natsu said.
"I know, that's why I haven't tried punching you." Lucy snapped at him.
"Mind, telling me what's going on?" Gray asked the pair.
"Wait for Erza to get here, that way Lucy won't have to explain it three times." Natsu answered.
When Erza did return, she was greeted by Natsu.
"Blonde girl wants to talk." Natsu said.
"About?"
"Why, Phantom started this bullshit." Natsu answered.
Erza gave a nod as she joined the entire Guild for Lucy's explanation.
"I'm the Daughter of Jude Heartfillia, suffice it to say, all of you already know about my father. He is a very wealthy man and is very popular in this Kingdom. Recently, he has hired Phantom Lord to bring me back to him. Now considering Fairy Tail's and Phantom Lord's rivalry with one another. Phantom Lord has used this as a power grab while eliminating its competition. My Father didn't order Phantom Lord to attack Fairy Tail, it would look bad for him and his company. Phantom Lord is just attacking Fairy Tail to eventually frame a story to where they appear to be the heroes. As they got Lucy Heartfillia from the evil clutches of Fairy Tail. I'm...I'm so sorry for causing this entire incident!"
Lucy would bow her head to everyone in the basement of Fairy Tail. It didn't take long to get a reaction because Lucy heard the movement of armor. Lucy expected to be slapped by Erza. How dare she keep secrets from them? Yet, she felt a hand being gently placed on her shoulder.
"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. None of this is your fault, I'm sure your father wanted you back in a civil manner and we all know how bad it's gotten between our Guild's. Phantom Lord attacking us isn't because of you or your father, you didn't injure Master Makarov and you didn't destroy the Guild Hall." Erza softly spoke to Lucy.
Lucy looked up into Erza's eyes. Lucy would be greeted with a face of assurance and a comforting smile. Lucy felt tears wield up in her eyes.
"She has a point, Lucy. I mean they just had to take you back. It was on them to just blindly attack us. They decided this outcome, not you." Gray spoke.
Lucy was close to smiling, it looked like things were going to be okay. However, there would be more reactions.
"Seriously? She got us dragged into this mess?" A Fairy Tail Member spoke.
"Who said that!? This is where we come to put our past behind us and act like a family!" Wakaba yelled.
"Look at what the newest member of our family just brought to our doorsteps!"
"Family!? Fuck that! I came here because you guys are popular and it looked cool! However, this ain't worth it! I'm leaving the Guild fuck that!"
Lucy's heart clenched while Natsu grew a frown while lowering his head to hide his eyes. Lucy began to let tears fall as she watch multiple people announce their departure from Fairy Tail.
"All of you are shallow!" Erza shouted.
Erza became livid at seeing people walk out on the Guild especially in its moment of weakness.
"We didn't sign up for this!" A man yelled at Erza.
Erza felt powerless to stop people from leaving the Guild. They were deserters. They were traitors. They were just like Jellal! Yet, she couldn't very well attack them. It would make things even more worse. Though at this point if people were openly leaving, Erza was sure that they hit rock button. Fine! She wouldn't attack them because unlike some, she still had things she would stick too. She would not break them easily. Erza went to look at Lucy. Her heart nearly broke at seeing the female in such a devastating condition. Lucy would back herself with her back leaning against a wall and having no strength to stand would slide down until she sat down against the object. Lucy began to openly cry.
"Lucy..." Erza whispered out.
Natsu had enough of hearing Lucy cry. He moved towards the girl.
"Stop looking at her." Natsu ordered.
Many eyes landed on Natsu in confusion at the order. They watch him take off hissweater to expose his shirt. Natsu reach Lucy shortly after taking off his sweater. Lucy knowing he was before her had lashed out at Natsu.
"I'm not some emotionless robot like you, Natsu! I can't do it! Go ahead! Say it! At least I can feel!" Lucy yelled.
Natsu dropped his sweater on top of her head. That way no one could see her crying, that wat the world couldn't see her cry.
"I'm not asking you to be a robot, I'm asking you to grow a thick skin. People that just left, there will be more of them and they'll be even worse. Mentally and Physically, at all times, you must show the world you're unshakable because the world doesn't care. That is why, when you're alone. You may share your emotions because the world can't see them. The world cares not for the weak." Natsu said.
Lucy crying wasn't as loud but it was because she had to respond to him.
"You suck at comforting people." Lucy said.
There was sass, maybe he wasn't so bad after all. Natsu faced the entire Guild.
"Didn't I say to look away?" Natsu asked.
He ignited magic into his hand let his magic power be felt by everyone. Everyone followed his order as they decided not to test him.