The Water Dragon Slayer Soars

Chapter 10 Fairies vs. Phantoms

Once they got back, they began to treat the wounded and prepare to attack again. Bisca and Alzack took the master to a healer who lived just outside of town, Polyushko. While they were gone Aviana went over to where Natsu, Gray, Elfman, and Happy were trying to comfort Lucy.

Aviana didn't know everything but apparently, Natsu had caught up with them about halfway back and told everyone what had happened. Lucy had been kidnapped by Phantom and Natsu had managed to get her out. Lucy had also said that everything was her fault. She explained that she was a daughter of a very rich family. The Heartfilia family, owners of Heartfilia Railways. That she had run away from home a year ago and all of a sudden her dad had employed Phantom to retrieve her. As Aviana moved towards where Lucy and the others were she saw Alzack and Bisca return. 'Good,' she thought, 'now that the master's with a healer he should be fine.'

When Aviana got over to them Lucy was still beating herself up about everything that had happened. No one was upset with her or blamed her in any way, finally Happy asked her, "Why did you hide it, Lucy?"

Lucy kept her head down, "It's not like I hid it. It's just... I ran away from home ... it's not something people want to talk about. My father didn't care for a full year that I was gone. Now all of a sudden he wants me back. My dad hired Phantom to get me back, it's his fault Phantom attacked us, he's horrible. But... I guess it's my fault for running away. Things will go back to normal for you guys if I just go home."

Natsu looked at her, "Is that so?" Lucy looked up, confused. Natsu continued, "I mean, the term 'Lady' doesn't really suit you, does it? You belong in this musty old guild, laughing and happily going on adventures. You yourself said you wanted to stay here. What good would it do to go back to the place you hate? You're Lucy of Fairy Tail and this is your home."

Lucy started crying again. "Nice going Natsu," Gray muttered.

"No... No that's what I needed to hear, Gray. Thanks, Natsu I was so worried about everyone else I forgot how capable they were and I forgot that no matter what all of you want me, as well as yourselves, to be happy." Lucy sniffled.

Then Cain ran over, "Aviana I sense something huge moving towards the guild through the water behind the guild. It's so big it only it's legs are in the water."

Aviana was on high alert. Now that she tried she to could sense whatever it was, "Not good. Not good at all." she muttered then ran outside Cain right on her heels. Before they even got out the door they saw it. The Phantom Guild was a robot of some sort, walking towards them on six legs. Each step must have been heavy because as it got closer the ground began to shake in correlation to the footstep of the robot-guild. Many guild members began to panic. Erza, Natsu, Gray, Aviana, Cain, even Katsandra and Happy were near the front unsure what to do. Then a panel slid down and a large cannon slide into view aimed right for the guild.

Erza's eyes widened, "Everyone get down! That's a magic conversion cannon!" Then she ran forward her armor transforming into something large, bulky, and probably highly defensive. The armor was made entirely of a thick grayish-black metal She placed herself firmly between the guild and cannon.

Nav, who had recovered from Gajeel's hitting him in the head, shouted, "NO ERZA! Even the highly defensive Herculian Armour won't withstand a hit from that thing!"

"GET DOWN!!" Erza screamed again, in each hand half of a huge shield appeared. She brought the halves together and a magic circle appeared and expanded until it was big enough to protect the whole guild. The cannon fired and hit Erza's defensive circle. Erza held but the shockwave that followed the blast sent her flying backward, shattering the armor. Gray and Natsu ran to her side. She was badly hurt and the simple white shirt and blue skirt she wore under the armor were peppered with small burns.