Chapter 13
This Means War!
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Change
"Who would do such a thing?" Erza asked.
"It was Phantom." The group turned around and looked at Mirajane who walked up behind them.
"Phantom did this?" Natsu asked enraged.
"They got us good..." Mira said.
"Where is everyone?" Laki asked concerned.
"Follow me. I'll bring you to them." Mira waved her hand to follow her and the group did.
They followed her down the stairs into the basement of the guild. In the room, every member of Fairy Tail was sitting around tables, nursing their spirits.
"I know we've never been on good terms with Phantom, but this is just taking things too far." Jet complained to his teammates.
"Yo." Makarov waved his drunken hand. "Welcome back, guys."
"I'm sorry we weren't back sooner." Erza said.
"Why are you all just sitting around here!?" Natsu shouted.
"Master, do you understand what the gravity of the situation?" Erza asked. "This level of hostility cannot go unpunished."
"Calm down." The master sighed. "It's not something to make a fuss about. It just shows how cowardly those brats in the Phantom Lord guild are. Attacking an empty building."
"Empty building?" Laki asked.
"They struck in the middle of the night, when no one was inside." Mira told them. "I suppose that's the only good thing about this."
"We shouldn't trouble ourselves over people who don't have the guts to fight us head on." Makarov added. "Forget about those fools." His words enraged the group as Natsu punched a crate in anger.
"No way, Gramps!" Natsu shouted. "I won't feel right until I smash them down!"
"I'm not talking about this any longer." Makarov said. "We'll take care of job requests down here until the upstairs is repaired."
"We don't have time to worry about jobs!" Natsu shouted back.
"Natsu, stop it!" Makarov swung his hand with his magic and spanked Lucy, thinking it was Natsu.
"Why did he spank me?" Lucy asked.
"Master..." Laki cracked her knuckles. "I thought we agreed, no touching when you're drunk."
"Hehehe." Makarov chuckled before jumping down off the table and running away.
"Where are you going, old man!?" Natsu asked.
"Don't get you're panties in a knot." Makarov said. "I gotta drain the snake."
"I don't understand. How can he act like everything is fine?" Natsu asked as he hung his head.
"Listen, this is just as hard on him as it is on you." Mirajane spoke up. "He's mad, but conflicts between the guilds are forbidden by the council."
"If this isn't a declaration of war, then I don't know what is!" He shouted at the barmaid.
"That's beside the issue." Laki jumped in. "Natsu, I wanna fight them as much as you do, but we can't disobey the master whenever we feel like it."
"Laki's right." Erza chimed in. "If this is the masters wish, then we must accept it..."
Nighttime
Strawberry Street
Lucy walked down the street to her apartment, with Plue by her side and her suitcase behind her. "This is a big mess we're in, isn't it Plue?"
"I'm glad we got away from the punishment, though." She chuckled to her spirit. "I knew Phantom Lord wasn't on good terms with Fairy Tail, but I didn't think it was this bad." Plue merely danced around as the two walked home. "To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure which one I wanted to join, because they're both so outrageous."
She arrived at the building and walked up the stairs to her apartment. "But I'm glad I joined Fairy Tail." She arrived at her door and opened it. "They're kinda like my fami-" She stopped talking when she noticed the team in her apartment.
"You were right, Laki." Erza, in a white blouse, said as she sipped her tea. "This is a nice place."
"Why are you here!?" Lucy shouted as she swung her suitcase at Natsu.
"Seeing as how a member of Phantom Lord is in town, it's possible they have our addresses." Erza said, scaring Lucy.
"Mira thought it be best if we stick together." Gray chimed in. "Strength in numbers and all that."
"But why here?" Lucy asked. "I don't have enough room for five people."
"I wanted to stay with Natsu at his house, but Erza insisted we all stay here." Laki spoke up.
"The two of you are of marriageable age..." Erza defended herself. "I wouldn't feel right if I left you two alone with Natsu and Gray for the night. I had to come to ease my mind."
"We shouldn't be easing anything!" Natsu shouted.
"So it was already decided that Gray would stay with me?" Lucy asked as Happy and Plue explored the room. "When was that decision made?"
"Erza, look, I found some really kinky underwear." Happy said as Plue sucked on a hidden lollipop.
"Stay out of my stuff or you're both dead! You hear me!" Lucy shouted in embarrassment.
"What you eating, Plue? Gimme some." Natsu demanded.
"I can't believe you'd wear something like this, Lucy..." Erza examined the underwear with a blush on her face.
"Laki! Erza's being perverted! Do something!" Lucy ordered.
"The key word in that is 'Ezra'." Laki said. "No way am I poking that bear."
"Keep it down. I'm trying to get some shut eye." Gray said as he climbed onto Lucy's bed.
"That's my bed! Get out, now!" Lucy shouted.
"Whatever the sleeping arrangements are, you boys stink." Erza recomposed herself and addressed Natsu and Gray. "I'm not sleeping in a room that reeks of sweet."
"I showered last night. I'm fine." Natsu complained.
"But I just got into bed." Gray added.
"I guess there's no other way." Erza said as she pressed her hands onto their shoulders. "We can shower together, like when we were kids..."
"What kind of relationship do guys have!?" Lucy shouted in horror.
"They're the strongest team!" Happy shouted.
"More like the strangest team." Laki chuckled.
A Nearby Street
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Jet asked as his team walked down the street. "Don't you think you'd be safer with Bisca and the others at the girls dorm?"
"We'll be fine." Levy told him. "Besides, I don't wanna split up our team." Her words swooned the two men, unaware that a figure was watching them from afar. The man jumped off the roof and raced towards the three, who turned around to see his face.
Lucy's Apartment
"Okay, Natsu. Your turn." Lucy said as she stepped out of the bathroom. "I'm done with my bath." She stared at his sleeping frame for a few seconds before turning to Gray. "You wanna take his spot, Gray?" His response never came.
"You should." Laki said in her purple, acorn spotted pajamas. "It's really relaxing." She glanced over at Erza, who was still in her towel. "Hey Erza, think you change out of those?"
"No, not at all." Erza's body began to glow as her towel was replaced by purple pajamas with red Heart Kreuz symbols on it. "Is this any better?"
"Showoff..." Laki mumbled as Lucy took a seat next to Natsu at her table.
"Hey, do you guys have any idea why Phantom Lord attacked all of a sudden?" Lucy asked.
"No idea." Laki answered. "We've had some brushes in the past, but this is the first time they directly attacked us."
"If Gramps wasn't so scared, we could wipe out those punks once and for all." Natsu mumbled awake.
"You know he's not scared of them Natsu." Gray said, holding a stack of papers. "You seem to be forgetting he's one of the Ten Wizard Saints."
"Who said you could read that!?" Lucy asked as she snatched her novel-to-be from his hand. "Give it here."
"You can't snatch it out of my hands without telling me what happens next." Gray said.
"Yes I can." Lucy said back. "Besides, I promised Levy she'd be the first to read it, so you're just gonna have to wait." She turned to Erza, who had her hand out, as if wanting the novel herself. "You aren't getting it, either!"
She put her work in a drawer, before turning back to Erza. "So what exactly is a wizard saint?"
"It's a title given to the ten most powerful wizards on the continent." Erza explained. "Who becomes one is decided by the magic council's chairman."
"Wow..." Lucy said in amazement.
"The master of Phantom, Jose, is one of them." Laki added.
'And so is he...' An image of Siegrain popped into Erza's head.
"He is afraid!" Natsu slammed his palm onto the table. "He thinks we can't beat all the members Phantom has!"
"That's not true, Natsu." Laki spoke up. "It's just like master and Mira said. The consequences of a war with Phantom are not worth the risk." Natsu sunk back into his chair as Laki continued. "The order of the magical world is at stake."
"Are they that great?" Lucy asked.
"They got nothing on us." Natsu bragged. "We can beat them no problem."
"No." Erza spoke up. "If went to war with them, neither guild would survive. Their strength equals ours. Master Jose is one of the Ten Wizards Saints along with Makarov, meaning their power equals each other. They also have a group of wizards called the Element Four, similar to our S-Class. But the biggest threat might be from Black Steel Gajeel. I believe he's the one who destroyed our guild hall. He's known as the Iron Dragon Slayer."
"He's a Dragon Slayer, too!?" Lucy asked horrified, as the group missed the shared looks on Natsu and Laki. "I thought Natsu was the only one. So if he's the Iron Dragon Slayer, does that mean he eats iron!?"
Phantom Lord Guildhall
"Gajeel, I just heard you attacked Fairy Tail, huh?" One member asked as the Dragon Slayer stuffed his face with metal. "Good job! I bet they ran home, crying to the mommies. What a bunch of babies."
Gajeel snapped the bolt he was chewing in half before raising his arm and turning it into an iron pillar, sending the other member flying into the wall as other laughed. "What have I said about disturbing me while I'm eating!?" Gajeel asked as his hand returned to normal. "Besides, those Fariy Tail clowns can't challenge us. We're stronger than they could ever be."
"The wheels are in motion." A new voice spoke up as he stood on a balcony overlooking the members. "Excellent work, Gajeel."
"I didn't think we were hard enough on them, so I decided to leave them something extra." Gajeel spoke up. "It's a present that will really get those Fairies."
"Nicely done, my boy." Jose complemented. "Just make sure you don't harm that one, no matter what."
The Next Morning
Southgate Park, Magnolia
A large crowd had gathered around the tree that was in the center of the park.
"Pardon, coming through." Erza said as the team pushed through the mob of people. "We're from the guild."
They arrived at the front and all stared in horror, except Natsu and Laki, who stared in anger. Strapped to the tree was a badly beaten Team Shadowgear. On Levy's stomach was the Phantom Lord emblem.
"Levy!" Lucy shouted.
"Jet! Droy!" Gray shouted at the sight.
In the back of the crowd, Makarov slowly approached the tree. Once at the front, he looked up at Levy as blood started to trickle out of a cut on her forehead.
"Wrecking our shoddy bar I could deal with..." Makarov started as he gripped his staff tighter. "But no parent can remain silent after seeing their children's blood!" His staff snapped in half, scaring Lucy as a golden aura raged around him. "We have no choice but to go to war!"
Magnolia Hospital
Lucy at in a chair as she looked at Team Shadow Gear in their hospital beds. "Phantom Lord is heartless." She mumbled as she stared back at the guild hall.
2 Weeks Ago
"So Lucy, I heard that you're writing a novel?" Levy asked as she sat next to the blonde.
"So, the words gotten out already, huh?" Lucy asked. "I knew I couldn't trust the cat and the pyro to keep a secret."
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself." Levy said with a laugh. "My name's Levy McGarden, but just call me Levy, k?" She pointed behind her to two men. "My friend in the hat is Jet, and the other one is Droy. We're all on the same team."
"Okay..." Lucy mumbled.
"Anyway, I'm a horrible writer, but I love to read." Levy continued. "Could I read your novel some time, if you don't mind that is?"
"Well..." Lucy mumbled embarrassed. "I never really planned on having anyone read it..."
"What?" Jet asked. "What's the point of writing a book if no one is ever gonna read?"
"You know, they say being a novelist is like showing your bare butt to the world." Droy added, before flinching at the sound of cracking knuckles. "It's just a metaphor, Laki."
"You don't have to be embarrassed." Levy spoke up. "Come on, Lucy, please show it to me? And I don't mean your butt so don't be weird."
"Well, I'm not exactly finished with it yet..." Lucy confessed.
"Alright, then when you are done, I wanna be the first one to read it." Levy said.
"Sure, okay..." Lucy chuckled.
"Awesome! I can't wait!" Levy cheered.
"Phantom Lord..." Lucy mumbled as tears filled her eyes. "I will never forgive you..."
Oak Town
Phantom Lord Guildhall
"That's priceless!" One member chuckled out as Gajeel told what he did to Shadow Gear.
"Those Fairies got their asses burned bad." Another one cheered.
"We can't let him have all the fun." One member said as he and his friends walked towards the door.
"Yeah, let's go pluck some Fairy wings ourselves." His friend said as they reached the door. The door exploded, sending them flying back. As the smoke cleared, the Fairy Tail symbol on Natsu's arm came into view, before the entire Fairy Tail guild emerged from the smoke.
"FAIRY TAIL HAS COME CALLING!" Makarov shouted as the guilds charged at each other.
"Bring it, punks!" Natsu lead the charge for Fairy Tail, using his Wing Attack to strike first. "You're gonna pay!"
"Purple Net!" Macao shouted as he used his magic to trap members of Phantom. "You're up, Wakaba!"
"On it." Wakaba said as pink smoke left his pipe. "Here's Smoke Crush." The smoke hardened into fists that pummeled the members.
"Guns Magic: Spark Shot!" Alzack shouted as he open fired on the charging members, blasting them with electric powered shots until the fell over. "I'm the best quick draw in the whole guild. Don't forget it."
"Eat this!" A Phantom member shouted from behind, ready to strike, but a shot blasted him away from Alzack.
"Thanks, Bisca." Alzack said.
"Getting rusty there, Al?" Bisca asked before looking down her scope. "Lock on target." She said as a magic seal appeared at the end as it traced a line along Phantom members. "Homing Shot!" She pulled the trigger and fired, releasing a bullet that exploded, hitting only the Phantom Members.
"Get Master Makarov!" A Phantom member shouted as a mob charged the small man. Makarov opened his eyes, revealing a golden light as he grew bigger and bigger. The Phantom members stared in horror as he swatted them like bug. "He's... a monster..."
"AND YET YOU DARE TO LAY YOUR HANDS ON THIS MONSTER'S CHILDREN?" Makarov roared in anger. "DID YOU REALLY BELIVE HUMAN LAWS ARE ENOUGH TO PROTECT YOU FROM MY WRATH!?"
"Such strength." One member muttered in fear.
"All the wizards are strong too." Another added as Erza slashed a group of wizards. "I didn't know Fairy Tail was like this."
A group charged at Reedus, who stood there mixing his paint. "Pict Magic: Nature, Run Wild!" He painted pigs on his chest before they jumped off and rammed the Phantom members.
"Wood-Make: The Dam of Shy Love!" Laki chanted as she slammed her hands into the ground, creating tools that sent Phantom members flying.
"That doesn't make any sense!" A member shouted.
"Get the cat!" One member shouted as a mob charged at Happy.
"Hm..." Happy chuckled as he flew out of the way, letting the members slam into each other. "Don't forget. I'm a wizard, too!" He then beat them senseless with food he kept in his bag.
"JOSE!" Makarov shouted. "SHOW YOURSELF!"
"Tell me!" Erza shouted as she Requipped into her Flame Empress Armor and slashed her sword. "Where are The Element Four and Gajeel!?"
"Huh." Gajeel chuckled from above in the rafters. "Looks like Titania is here, as are Salamander and the Green Woman. It's a shame Laxus and Mystogan aren't here. I guess they just don't care. Still, I didn't expect Master Jose's plan to work this well. Go ahead and wear yourselves out, scumbags."
Magnolia
"Huuh." Lucy sighed as she walked down the street. "Everyone just went ahead and left without me. Still, someone had to keep an eye on Levy and the boys." She stopped walking when she noticed the rain pouring. "What the? It's raining while the sun is out?"
"Drip, drip, drop..." Lucy looked forward as a woman in blue walked towards her. "Juvia is the rain woman... It always follows me."
"Huh?" Lucy asked.
"Pray tell, what sort of woman are you?" Juvia asked.
"The normal kind..." Lucy said nervously.
Juvia opened an umbrella as she walked past her. "Pleasure to meet you. I must be going now."
"Well, take the rain with you!" Lucy shouted.
"No, no, no." A new voice spoke out from nowhere, scaring Lucy. "No, no, no." The two women looked behind them as the ground rose up. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." The ground turned into a man in a brown tuxedo and green hair. "Greetings, mademoiselle."
"Great, two weirdos." Lucy groaned as the man waved around.
"Juvia, you mustn't shy away from the task at hand." The man said as he slid over to Juvia.
"No, moisure Sol." Juvia agreed.
"My monocle whispers many things to me, monshere." Sol said as he adjusted his glass. "It tells me this woman madam before us is our sible."
"Oh, so she's the one?" Juvia asked.
"Sible... That means target." Lucy muttered to herself.
"A thousand pardons." Sol said as he bowed. "I forgot to tell you my name. I am Sol of the Element 4, also known as Sol of the Earth. But I'd prefer if you called me Monsieur Sol."
"The Element Four... So you're with Phantom!" Lucy said.
"Trie bien!" Sol replied. "We've been charged with bringing you back to the guild." Lucy growled as Sol pointed to Juvia. "My velle companion is a rain woman who is also part of the Element Four. She is Juvia of the Great Sea."
"So you're the ones who hurt Levy!" Lucy shouted as she reached for her keys, only to have the water surrounding her turn into a bubble.
"No, no, no, allow me to clear the air around that." Sol said as he twirled his mustache. "That honor, as well as the honor of wrecking your guild hall, belongs to moisure Gajeel."
"Let go of me!" Lucy shouted from inside the bubble.
"Don't waste your energy." Juvia said with no emotion. "My Water Lock spell cannot be broke."
Lucy kept struggling until she had no more oxygen and fell unconscious and her keys . "Tres bien!" Sol cheered.
"Do not worry. I do not plan on killing you." Juvia told the unconscious body as Lucy's key ring floated out of the bubble. "After all it is my duty to capture you, Lucy Heartphillia."
Oak Town
Phantom Lord Guildhall
"Take this!" A fire wizard shouted as he tried to blast Laki, who jumped out of the way, letting Natsu eat the spell.
"Oh, yeah." Natsu grinned. "Thanks for the meal, buddies."
"That can't be good!" The fire phantom wizard shouted in fear.
"He just ate fire!" Another wizard shouted.
"No way..." A third spoke up. "I thought Gajeel was the only one..."
"I'm gonna blow you away!" Natsu shouted as he brought his hands to his lips. "Fire Dragon Roar!" He blasted the fire wizard with his roar, hitting the other Phantom members as well.
"Ice-Make: Lance!" Gray slammed his hands into the ground, launching Phantom wizards into the air.
"Wood-Make: Violent Aproach!" Laki shouted as she jumped into the air and sent the Phantom members back down underneath giant spiked balls.
"Card Magic!" Cana held up three cards as a mob charged her. "Lightning, Reverse Tower, Lovers. Fate of Thunder!" The cards were covered in a magic circle as lightning shot out and struck the mob.
"Ring Magic!" Loke shouted as he adjusted a ring on his finger. "Twister!" He swung his arm, creating a hurricane that swallowed a mob of wizards.
Elfman roared as he raised his arm to the ceiling as a magic seal transformed it from human to a reptilian one. He threw a punch that launched several wizards flying. "Come on, man up! Don't you wanna be like me!?"
"What the heck is with that guys arm?" One onlooker asked in horror.
"It's Take-Over Magic." Another added.
"Take over... Oh, crap that's Elfman!" The first realized.
"As in the guy who kills monsters, then absorbs their power?" The second asked. "'Beast Arm' Elfman?"
The two maker mages jumped back from an attack and stood back to back to back with Natsu.
"How you holding up, Laki?" Natsu asked.
"Better than you, pyro." Gray answered for the girl.
"Not now, you two." Laki said. "We're here to fight these guys, not each other."
"We got'em right where we want them." Wakaba said as he backed up towards Erza and Macao.
"Erza!" Makarov shouted as he climbed the stairs, blasting away anyone foolish enough to get in his way. "I'm putting you in charge here."
"Understood." Erza responded.
"Jose is probably lurking on the top floor." Makarov told himself. "When I find him, there will be hell to pay."
"Please, be careful." Erza mumbled as Makarov blasted the door away before disappearing into the upper levels.
"Heehee..." Gajeel chuckled as he observed from the rafters. "Now that the pain in the ass master is gone, it's about time I threw myself into the mix." He jumped down, laughing like a mad man.
He landed on the bar sign, breaking it in two. Everyone looked up as Gajeel stood up. "It's the Iron Dragon Slayer." Laki whispered. "'Black Steel' Gajeel."
"You're the one who hurt Levy!" Nab shouted as he jumped up to punch the man. Gajeel held out his hand and his arm turned into an iron pillar, knocking Nab backwards and then forcing him into several Phantom wizards.
"What's wrong with this guy?" Alzack asked. "He just wiped out his own comrades!"
"Show me what you got." Gajeel egged on as his arm came back. "Unless you scum are too scared to face the great Iron Dragon Slayer."
"Too scared!?" Elfman asked as he charged towards Gajeel. "Real men fear nothing!" He jumped and his arm transformed into his Stone Bull spell as he brought it forward.
Gajeel brought his own arm up and blocked the attack. "You're Elfman, right?" He asked before bringing his fist forward to punch, but Elfman dodged it. Gajeel raised his leg and turned it into a pillar of iron, but Elfman caught it. "Hmph. Not bad, big man."
"Well, that's because I'm a real man." Elfman declared.
"Yeah?" Gajeel asked back. "Then how does a real man handle this!?" More pillars shot out of his leg, striking nearby Phantom wizards.
"They're Phantom!?" Elfman asked surprised. "You attacked your own men!?"
"Pay attention." Gajeel said as he used his hand as a pillar and knocked Elfman back. Elfman looked behind him and smirked at the sight. He rolled out of the way as Laki swung her scythe, hitting Natsu and sending him flying towards Gajeel. Once in range, Natsu swung a fire powered fist, sending Gajeel crashing into the bar behind him.
"Those two just sent Gajeel flying." One Phantom wizard mumbled. "No one's ever done that before."
Gajeel stood up as Natsu lit his hands on fire. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Fairy Tail's Dragon Slayer." Gajeel smirked at the statement. "Elfman, I've got this."
"Come on!" Elfman shouted. "I started this, so I have to-" He stopped talking when Laki tapped him on the shoulder.
"Trust me, Elfman." She told him. "You do not want to be between two dragons when they fight."
"Alright, fine." Elfman conceded. "Just promise me you'll give him a man sized pounding."
"You got it." Natsu said as Gajeel turned his arm into a club that slammed into Natsu's stomach. "For our guild hall, for Levy and the others..." He said as he grasped the pillars before lighting his hands on fire. "I'll send you to hell!"
He flipped Gajeel into the air, before Gajeel springboarded off the rafters back down and tried to punch Natsu, only to have Natsu block it and give him a fire punch, sending him flying into the stone wall behind him.
Gajeel forced his hand through the debris before standing up. "Nice try, but I'm still standing."
"True." Natsu admitted. "You won't be for much longer, though."
Gajeel sprinted forward and kicked Natsu with an iron pole, sending him flying into a group of Phantom wizards.
"That had to hurt." Gray observed.
"Trust me, Natsu's not done yet." Laki added.
"Aww, what's wrong?" Gajeel asked as he walked towards the pile of rubble Natsu created. "You can dish it out, but you can't take it?"
The pile erupted into flames as Natsu stood up. "It's gonna take more than that to keep me down."
"You really think you can beat me, pyro?" Gajeel asked as his arm glowed.
"What do you mean think?" Natsu asked as he ignited his hand. "I know I can."
"We'll see about that!" Gajeel shouted as he launched an iron pillar at Natsu, who caught it with a single hand.
"Your beams can't even touch me!" Natsu said as his fire raged around him. "You better step it up if you wanna beat me!"
"So the rumors are true." Gajeel said, impressed. "You're way more powerful than you look." He retracted his hand, letting steam rise off it. "I actually felt that. So, is that all you got, Salamander?"
"That was just my warm up." Natsu declared. "I'm just getting started. You haven't seen anything yet, you metal freak."
The two stared at each other before launching towards each other, Natsu with fire and Gajell with iron clubs. The dragon slayers traded blows until Gajeel kicked Natsu away. He skidded across the ground, holding his stomach.
"Man, he's tough..." Natsu mumbled as he looked up. Gajeel jumped into the air and brought his foot down to stomp Natsu. Natsu ignited his fist and was about to punch him when Gajeel used Natsu's arm to bounce back up. He flipped in midair and spikes jutted out of his heels, letting him hang from the rafters. Natsu jumped up after him, his fist still ablaze. Gajeel raised his own arm to block, but was sent flying as Natsu landed on a beam. "How's that, Black Steel?"
Gajeel flipped again and stuck himself to a beam upside down. "Don't get cocky, punk." He declared. "It won't happen again." The two slayers stared at each other as the building shock around them.
"Everything's shaking." Wakaba said with a smile.
"Wow, they are really going at it." Macao added.
"Wh-What's going on?" One Phantom wizard asked.
"This is what happens when Master Makarov is angry." Cana explained.
"We call it the Giants Wrath." Laki continued as she helped Nab. "No one is able to stop him when he's like this."
"He's gonna make the guild hall collapse." A Phantom wizard said.
"When he gets angry, the master's even manlier." Elfman added.
"Keep fighting." Erza ordered. "As long as we have Master Makarov, we cannot lose."
Upper Levels
Makarov walked through the hall with rage in his eyes, his raging magic power destroying everything around him. He reached a massive door and blew it off its hinges, revealing his prey. The closer he got, the more the room was destroyed. "JOSE!"
"Look what the cat dragged in." Jose chuckled out.
"WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING FAIRY TAIL!?" Makarov asked. "TELL ME!?"
"I haven't seen you in a while, Makarov." Jose spoke, ignoring the question. "Six years ago at a guild masters conference. I remember that day, I was a complete mess. I can't hold my liquor as well as the rest of you."
Makarov cocked his fist back before sending it forward, crushing the master before him. "I'm not here to reminisce with you, Jose. I'm here for answers."
The dust from the attack settled, revealing Jose with static like glitches. "A projection?" Makarov asked as he retracted his fist. "You coward. I should have known you'd run with your tail between your legs."
"It's called strategy." Jose smirked out. "I'm merely trying to avoid a battle between two of the Wizard Saints. In leu of that, I prefer a rational victory."
"Where are you!?" Makarov shouted. "Come and face me, you coward!" Jose smirked as a projection of Lucy came into view. "Lucy!? Why?"
"Why, you ask?" Jose answered with question. "You mean she's a member of you guild and you don't even know? I find that hard to believe." He raised his hand and prepared to cast a spell.
"Don't!" Makarov shouted before noticing the large man behind him. 'Where'd he come from? I couldn't even sense his presence!"
"It's, so sad." The man cried out as he cast a spell on Makarov, sending him falling to the ground floor. Everyone looke over and saw a green skinned Makarov. Every available Fairy Tail wizard rushed to his side.
"Makarov is powerless now, thanks to Aria of the Heavens." Jose said from his room, holding Lucy. "He has the ability to make other wizards powers disappear into thin air. I think it's safe to say we won this round, Fairy Tail."
"My magic..." Makarov mumbled as Erza and others surrounded him.
"Master, hang in there!" Erza said.
"What's wrong with him?" Laki asked.
"I don't know, but I don't sense any magic energy from him." Gray said.
"So, you're he's just a plain geezer now?" Natsu asked in shock.
"What happened upstairs?" Laki asked as she looked up, locking eyes with Gajeel.
"Guys, we can beat them." One Phantom wizard said to the mob behind him. "They only have half their strength now that their master is beat. And we have the Element Four and Gajeel on our side."
'This is bad.' Erza thought, having overheard the conversation. The Phantom wizards charged forward, ready to end the fight.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves!" Laki said as she and Natsu sent a mob flying back.
"We'll just have to fight harder!" Loke said as he and Gray were surrounded.
'We can't do this.' Erza thought as she looked out onto the battle field. 'Without the master, we don't have enough strength or morale.' She wiped something from her eye before standing up. "EVERYONE, BACK TO THE GUILD AT ONCE!"
Everyone was in shock at Erza's order. Some downtight refused to believe it. "I'm not going anywhere!" Gray shouted back.
"Real men never retreat!" Elfman shouted as he flung one Phantom member into another.
"We don't have a choice!" Erza shouted back. "Without Master Makarov, we cannot defeat Jose! We're retreating! That's an order!"
Gajeel watched from upside down as the Fairy Tail wizards fled, with Phantom giving chase. "There they go. I knew it wouldn't be long before those cowards started running away."
"They retreat with sorrow in their hearts." Aria said as Gajeel flipped up next to him.
"Aria, still as creepy as ever." Gajeel said. "Nice job, taking down that Fairy Tail geezer."
"I merely followed Master Jose's orders, but thank you." He said back before crying.
"Do you have to cry over every little thing?" Gajeel asked. "It's so annoying. So, what happened with that Lucy girl?"
Natsu and Laki turned around and looked up at the mention of Lucy. "She is being held in a gloomy cell at headquarters." Aria reported.
"No way..." Laki muttered, confusing Happy.
"Gajeel!" Natsu shouted.
"We'll finish this someday soon, Salamander." Gajeel smirked before looking at Laki. 'Something about her seems very familiar.' He thought to himself as Aria teleported them away.
"They've taken Lucy..." Both Natsu and Laki muttered, shocking Happy.
"Everyone out now!" Erza shouted. "We're leaving!"
"How can we retreat like this!?" Gray shouted. "I'm not leaving until I avenge Levy and the others!" He looked over when Erza put her hand on his.
"Please..." She whispered out before falling into his chest. "It's our only option... We need him. Without the master, we're completely helpless..." Gray gave in and joined the retreating mob, all of whom were unaware that they wear missing a few members.
"Let's get'em!" A Phantom wizard shouted as he chased after them, only to be grabbed by a hand and pulled to the ground. He looked over and his eyes went wide in fear. "No. The Salamander and the Green Woman, and that cat!"
"The four of us are gonna have a little talk." Laki said as Natsu erupted in flames.
"Please don't hurt me!" The man said in fear.
Past Phantom Lord
"So what are we gonna do now?" Happy asked Laki.
"Save Lucy, of course." She told the cat as Natsu dragged the Phantom member behind him. "Alright, where is she?"
"How should I know?" The enemy asked. "I've never heard of her in my life."
"Natsu." Laki said and the Phantom wizard was set ablaze. "Let's try that again."
"I already told you, I don't know anything!" The member screamed. "Now please, put out the fire!"
"You Phantom freaks took one of our friends." Natsu spoke up. "If I find out you hurt her, I'll burn everyone of you into a pile of ashes."
"I'm telling you guys, I've never heard of this Lucy chick in my life!" The man shouted. "Don't you think if I knew I would have told you by now!?"
"Funny you should say that, because I was thinking Natsu should have burnt you to a crisp by now." Laki said. "Or would you prefer if I interrogated you?"
"Look, our headquarters is just ahead!" The man said. "If I had to guess, I'd say they have her locked up there!"
"You should have said that in the first place!" Natsu shouted.
Phantom Lord Headquarters
Lucy woke up in a dark cell, her hands bound behind her back. "What is this? How did I get here?"
"Well, I see you're awake." A new voice scared her as looked to the door. "I was starting to worry about you."
"Who are you?" She asked as the door opened and Jose walked in.
"I'm Phantom Lords guild master, Jose Porla." He told her.
"Phantom Lord!?" Lucy asked before memories of her capture came back to her.
"I'd like to apologize for this dingy cell, as well as being tied up. But I'm afraid I had no choice." Jose smugly said. "That is how one treats a prisoner."
"Let me go right now!" Lucy ordered. "How dare you do all that to Levy and the others! My friends are gonna come looking for me!"
"Depending on your attitude, we might just treat you as a VIP instead of a captive." Jose said ignoring her.
"What do you mean by that?" Lucy asked. A bug crawled onto her leg and she freaked out. "Yuck! A bug just touched me!"
"See?" Jose pointed out. "You don't really want to stay here, do you? I have a beautifully decorated suite waiting for you, if you promise to behave."
"Why did you attack us?" Lucy asked, uninterested in his offer.
"Who is us?" Jose asked back. "Ah, you mean Fairy Tail?" A wicked smile graced his face. "That was just an extra. That's all."
"What!?" Lucy asked in anger.
"You see, we were working towards our true object of requiring a certain someone." He explained. "That certain individual happens to belong to Fairy Tail, so we thought why not kill two birds with the same stone?"
"A certain someone?" She asked.
"You're so slow." Jose said as he crushed the centipede beneath his foot. "Not what I'd expect from a debutante." Lucy's eyes went wide as she realized what Jose was saying. "I'm talking about you, of course. Lady Lucy, the privileged daughter of the Heartphilia family."
"How- how did you find out about that?" Lucy asked.
"I heard you were hiding your social status in the guild." Jose continued. "But I don't understand why a wealthy woman such as yourself would stoop to the dirty and labor intensive work of a wizard guild. Especially one as low class as Fairy Tail..."
"I've been kidnapped?" Lucy asked,
"No, no, nothing so crass." Jose shook his head. "It was your father who requested us to get you."
"I-I don't understand..." Lucy said shocked. "Why would he want me back?"
"Isn't it normal that when a pretty daughter runs away, her father hires people to look for her?" Jose asked.
"Not this one..." She whispered out. "He would never bother with something like that!" She looked up with rage in her eyes. "I won't ever go back to such a home! Not now, not ever!"
"Oh, dear." Jose huffed out. "I should have known this would be problematic."
"Well then, just let me go." She said.
"I can't do that." Jose told her.
"Please, I need to go to the bathroom." Lucy told him.
"Do you expect me to fall for the oldest trick there is?" He asked.
"No..., please, I really have to go." She said squirming around.
"Well then, go ahead." He produced a bucket and placed it infront of her.
"Are you serious!?" Lucy asked.
"I'm ready for any trick you might have." Jose chuckled.
"Guess it'll have to do..." Lucy muttered as she stood over the bucket.
"You're gonna use it!?" Jose blinked in disbelief before turning around. "What a shameless lady! You're lucky I'm a gentleman and will turn around."
Lucy smiled before raising her leg and kicking Jose as hard as she could in the groin, causing him fall over. "You know, old tricks are still around for a reason. They work." She stepped over Jose and headed towards the door. "Bye, take care." She reached the door, only to find out she was eighty feet high.
"Did I forget to mention how high we are?" Jose asked as he stood up. "I admit, that was a nice shot. But it's punishment time now."
Lucy turned around and weighted her options before closing her eyes and falling backwards. Jose tried to grab her, but fell over due to the pain from her shot. 'I heard them.' Lucy thought to herself. 'I know they're here!'
"Natsu! Laki!" She shouted. As if on cue, Natsu, with Happy on his back, flew towards her and caught her.
"Laki... Help." Happy let out before sinking to the ground faster than he wanted.
"On it!" She said before slamming her hands to the ground. "Wood-Make: Catcher of Fallen Debris!" A magic seal appeared and a giant catchers mitt rose up, breaking the fall of the three before breaking apart itself. "You guys okay?..." She asked before seeing the position Natsu and Lucy were in. "Get off each other!"
"Sorry..." Happy pulled Lucy off Natsu before cutting her bonds. "You okay, Lucy?"
"I think so..." Lucy said.
"Well, I guess we're heading back to the guild." Laki said.
"No way." Natsu refused. "This is their headquarters, right? So let's smash it!" This sparked an argument between the two friends, which only ended when they heard Lucy's whimpering.
"I'm so sorry..." Tears poured down her face as memories flashed through her head. "This is all my fault..." She turned around, letting the three see her crying. "But I don't wanna leave... I love Fairy Tail, and everyone in it."
"Why are you crying?" Natsu asked. "Who said you had to leave? You're one of us."
"Natsu, maybe we should go back to the guild." Happy said.
"I guess you guys are right..." Natsu admitted.
Back in the cell, Jose's magic power raged around him, destroying the walls near him. "She's made me angry! Her fate is sealed!"
Am I the only one who finds it weird that in a world with magic weapons, an island of demons, talking cats, and people who can eat elements, a sun shower is unheard of?
Gajeel suspects something from Laki and I plan on keeping everyone on their toes. So keep on reading to find out!
Betaread by digemsmack.