"Lucy, don't be afraid. Fairy Tail is the strongest guild there is. We'll crush Phantom Lord for you."
"Protecting a lady is a man's duty!"
"I'm still waiting to read the first novel you write, Lucy. You don't get to give up now!"
"You're part of our strongest team. Your life is yours to decide!"
Not a single Fairy Tail mage blamed Lucy for becoming the spark that lit the fuse. Instead, they surrounded her with reassurance, voices overlapping in stubborn solidarity.
At last, Makarov raised his hand, his presence alone silencing the crowd.
"Lucy," he said firmly, "once you join Fairy Tail, you're one of us. You are my child. And no one lays a hand on my children. Now move out. We're going to Phantom Lord."
Lucy broke down completely, tears streaming as she bowed her head, overwhelmed by the warmth she didn't know how to repay.
Before they could depart, Rowan raised a practical concern.
"Guild Master, how are we getting there?"
The distance between Magnolia and Phantom Lord's headquarters wasn't short. Most of the guild couldn't fly, and running was out of the question.
"I heard the Council has spatial transport devices that can move large groups between cities," Rowan added. "Do we have one?"
Makarov coughed and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't be ridiculous. Those things cost a fortune. We're taking the train."
He straightened up, a little sheepish. "The mayor owes me a favor. He'll arrange a special train for us. Everyone can rest on the way and arrive ready to fight."
Since the younger generation had grown up, the guild's finances had been perpetually strained. Only recently had things begun to stabilize, thanks in no small part to Rowan. A luxury artifact like that had never been an option.
"Fair enough," Rowan said lightly, letting the matter drop.
Privately, he made a note to himself. Once his alchemy improved, creating something like a teleportation key would be high on his list.
"Move out!"
At Makarov's command, the entire guild surged toward the station. Even Mirajane came along. No one was comfortable leaving her alone at the guild under the circumstances.
Gajeel, still unconscious from Makarov's earlier punch, was loaded onto the train as well. Evidence didn't get much clearer than that.
The train roared to life. As expected, Natsu immediately collapsed into motion sickness. Rowan solved the problem by levitating him a few feet off the floor.
What Rowan hadn't expected was for Gajeel to wake up… and start swaying just as badly.
"That's strange," Rowan muttered, turning to Mirajane. "Does Laxus get motion sick too?"
Mirajane blinked. "I… don't think I've ever seen him take a vehicle. He usually moves as lightning."
Makarov overheard and chuckled darkly. "Laxus gets sick too. From what I've heard, Dragon Slayers all share that problem."
Rowan stared. "All Dragon Slayers get motion sickness? That's… impressively unfortunate."
After a moment's thought, he shrugged it off. He could fly, teleport, or eventually find a magical workaround. It wasn't exactly a dealbreaker.
The train sped northward, drawing closer to Phantom Lord's city with every passing mile. The guild's excitement built steadily, anger and anticipation mixing into something sharp and electric.
At the same time, in the ancient northeastern city of Oak Town, Phantom Lord's headquarters stood like a dark monument.
Inside its vast central hall, Guild Master Jose Porla convened with the Four Elemental Mages.
"Once Gajeel returns," Jose began calmly, "we proceed to the next phase."
The plan was simple. Gajeel's attack would provoke Makarov. Fairy Tail would come in force. Two Elementals would use the chaos to abduct the target, while Aria waited for the right moment to drain Makarov's magic.
Without a Ten Wizard Saint, Fairy Tail would collapse.
If the Council asked questions later, Phantom Lord would claim self-defense. And once Fairy Tail was destroyed and the Heartfilia fortune secured, even the Council would hesitate to push too hard.
"Relax," Aria said softly, tears streaming down his face. "As long as Gajeel doesn't challenge their S-class directly, nothing will go wrong."
Jose nodded. "He's arrogant, but not reckless."
The building shook.
A thunderous roar echoed up from below.
"FAIRY TAIL IS HERE! JOSE, GET DOWN HERE AND DIE!"
Jose shot to his feet, eyes wide. "Makarov? Now? What is Gajeel doing?"
"Change of plans," he snapped. "I'll face Makarov myself. Aria, stay hidden and strike when the opportunity appears. The rest of you, deal with Fairy Tail's mages."
Downstairs, the doors to Phantom Lord's massive hall were blasted open. Fairy Tail stormed in, facing a room ten times the size of their own guild hall.
Phantom Lord's mages leapt to their feet, spells already forming.
The war began.
Flames roared. Smoke exploded outward. Lightning cracked through the air. Bullets of magic, living drawings, summoned constructs, and shaped wood collided in chaos.
For the first time, Rowan saw the full breadth of Fairy Tail's magic. It wasn't always refined or devastating, but it was varied, personal, and relentless.
And fighters like Erza and Natsu tore through the enemy ranks like living disasters, unstoppable and terrifying.
Watching it all, Rowan finally understood.
Fairy Tail wasn't strong because of numbers.
It was strong because every mage here was an elite.
...
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